Interaction Between Actin and Microtubules During Plant Development

The dynamic interaction between actin filaments (AFs) and microtubules (MTs) plays a crucial role in regulating key developmental and physiological processes in plant cells, particularly in the formation of specialized cell types with distinct shapes and functions, such as pollen tubes, trichomes, and leaf epidermal cells. These cytoskeletal components are organized into specialized structures, and their coordination is tightly regulated by molecular mechanisms, including ROP signaling pathways that control actin- and microtubule-binding proteins. Additionally, bifunctional proteins such as kinesins and myosins, which interact with both AFs and MTs, further facilitate the coordination of cytoskeletal activities, thus regulating cell morphology. Recent advances in understanding of stomatal development (Arabidopsis and maize), moss protonemal cells, and xylem differentiation have provided novel mechanistic insights into cytoskeletal crosstalk. This review, based on recent discoveries, focuses on the role of actin-microtubule interactions in the formation of new cell types, vesicular transport, and cell division. Furthermore, we highlight the molecular mechanisms that govern these interactions and propose future research directions in this field.