Cytokinesis is the physical separation of the cytoplasm during cell division, giving rise to two daughter cells. While animal and plant cell division are similar in principle, plant cytokinesis involves the formation of a cell plate that develops into the new cell wall. In multicellular plant species, the polysaccharide callose accumulates at the developing cell plate during and contributes to the deposition of the cell wall. Georgia Drakakaki and colleagues (Davis et al., 2020) now show for the first time that cytokinetic callose deposition is not restricted to multicellular plant species but also takes place in the unicellular alga Penium margaritaceum. The authors demonstrate that callose is deposited in a distinct pattern at the division plane, forming a ring-like structure around the nucleus, which persists as daughter nuclei migrate to opposite ends of the cell and division ensues. Callose deposition appears to be essential for cytokinesis, as failure to form the callose ring halts cell division. The failure to complete cytokinesis without callose deposition was attributed to its role in establishing the architecture of the isthmus zone at the cell centre, which in turn affects the overall pattern of polysaccharide deposition during assembly of the new cell wall. These findings may also be relevant for other unicellular streptophyte algae that employ callose deposition during their cytokinesis and could help to obtain a clearer picture of the evolution of land plants.
Cytokinetic callose in unicellular algae
- Split-screen
- Views Icon Views
-
Article Versions Icon
Versions
- Version of Record 12 October 2020
- Share Icon Share
-
Tools Icon
Tools
- Search Site
Cytokinetic callose in unicellular algae. J Cell Sci 1 October 2020; 133 (19): e1903. doi:
Download citation file:
Advertisement
Cited by
JCS Journal Meeting 2023: Imaging Cell Dynamics

Our 2023 Journal Meeting on ‘Imaging Cell Dynamics’ will be held from 14-17 May 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. We have a limited number of spaces left so sign up now! Registration deadline: 31 March.
Call for papers: Cell and Tissue Polarity
-PolarityCFP.png?versionId=4491)
We are welcoming submissions for our next special issue, which will focus on ‘Cell and tissue polarity’ and will be guest edited by David Bryant. Submission deadline: 15 July.
Webinar: Increasing the visibility and impact of your research
-HUBSwebinar.jpg?versionId=4491)
Would you like to increase the visibility and impact of your research and raise your profile internationally? If so, register for the very practical webinar we are running in association with HUBS on 23 February 2023.
Cell scientist to watch: Gautam Dey

We interviewed Gautam Dey, who became a group leader at EMBL in Heidelberg, Germany, in 2021. His lab investigates the fundamental organisational principles and evolutionary dynamics of the nuclear compartment across eukaryotes.
Mechanisms of eukaryotic transcription termination at a glance

Check out our latest Cell Science at a Glance article and accompanying poster for an overview of the current understanding about the mechanisms of transcription termination by the three eukaryotic RNAPs.