Plant cells on earth and in space

Two quite different types of plant cells are analysed with regard to transduction of the gravity stimulus: (i) Unicellular rhizoids and protonemata of characean green algae; these are tube-like, tip-growing cells which respond to the direction of gravity. (ii) Columella cells located in the center of the root cap of higher plants; these cells (statocytes) perceive gravity. The two cell types contain heavy particles or organelles (statoliths) which sediment in the field of gravity, thereby inducing the graviresponse. Both cell types were studied under microgravity conditions (10(-4) g) in sounding rockets or spacelabs. From video microscopy of living Chara cells and different experiments with both cell types it was concluded that the position of statoliths depends on the balance of two forces, i.e. the gravitational force and the counteracting force mediated by actin microfilaments. The actomyosin system may be the missing link between the gravity-dependent movement of statoliths and the gravity receptor(s); it may also function as an amplifier.