Golgi bodies in plant cells are involved in synthesizing complex sugars and modifying proteins. They move around the cell on tracks made of actin filaments and microtubules to deliver these sugars and proteins. When actin filaments are disrupted, Golgi bodies lose their long-distance and fast directional movement but continue small random movements. Disrupting microtubules does not affect directional movement but may regulate positioning and dynamics. The nanobody used to track Golgi bodies does not interfere with their movement patterns.

1. • Stack of flatten sacks;
• Sugar factories: synthesis of
complex polysaccharides (e.g
pectins) and add sugar groups
to proteins;
• Golgi bodies move around the
cell to deliver sugars and
modified proteins
(watch movie).
Number of plant
species used in*:
Medicines
17, 810
Materials
11, 365
Human food
5,538
Animal food
3,649
Fuels
1,642
The plant cell
Golgi bodies
Electron microscope image of Golgi bodies in maize
Model of plant Golgi
Movement of Golgi bodies
and cytoskeleton
The actin network labeled in planta with
alpaca nanobody.
Disruption of the
cytoskeleton and tracking of
the Golgi bodies movement
Fluorescent microtubules
The cytoskeleton is composed of:
Actin filaments
Microtubules
Results and conclusion
* Kew garden’s report ”State
of the world’s plants” 2016
Cytoskeleton is intact, the Golgi bodies are
highly motile
Actin filaments absent, the Golgi bodies lose
long distance and fast movement
Microtubules depolymerised, the
organelles maintain the directional
movement
Credits. EM micrograph of Golgi bodies in maize: Dr. Louise Hughes (Oxford Brookes University); 3D model reconstruction and printing: Dr. Louise Hughes and Dr. Erich Hummel (Zeiss); support: Frances Tolmie
Data from the tracking were
analysed and compared.
The absence of actin filaments
results in the loss of the
dynamic behaviour; Golgi
bodies “wiggle” around a
stationary position.
Actin filaments are essential
for the directional, long
distance and high speed
movement
The disruption of
microtubules does not affect
the directional motility of the
Golgi bodies.
Microtubules might be
involved in the positioning
and fine regulation of the
organelle dynamics.
The expression of the alpaca
nanobody does not interfere
with the pattern of
movement.
The nanobody is a valid tool
to study the organelles
dynamics
Dynamics of Golgi bodies, the complex sugar factories of plant cells
Alessandra Rocchetti, Prof. Chris Hawes, Dr. Verena Kriechbaumer, Dr. Anne Osterrieder
1 m
Chloroplast
GOLGI
BODY
Vacuole
Endoplasmic
Reticulum
Cell wall
1 m
1 m