Chinese Bulletin of Botany ›› 2004, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (02): 164-171.

• 综述与专论 • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Studies of the Locomotory Apparatus and Cytoskeleton in the Spermatozoid of Ferns

LIU Ning LIU Jian-Wu   

  1. (College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875)
  • Received:2003-01-27 Revised:2003-04-03 Online:2004-04-20 Published:2004-04-20
  • Contact: LIU Ning

Abstract: The authers reviewed recent advances in the study of the structure and development of locomotory apparatus and cytoskeleton in the spermatozoid of ferns. The spermatozoids develop from non-motile cells within the antheridia of ferns. Their differentiation process involves the synthesis and assembly of cytoskeleton and motile apparatus. The locomotory apparatus that emerges during the spermiogenesis consists of the multilayered structure (MLS), basal bodies, flagella and accessory structures. Basal bodies are the structures developed from bicentriole, the branched blepharoplast and blepharoplast, respectively, depending on the specific group of ferns concerned.Basal bodies, together with flagella and spline of the MLS, formed three distinct and unique microtubule arrays. The posttranslational modifications in tubulin provide considerable stability to those arrays. Centrin is a major constituent of locomotory apparatus, though it’s function is unclear. Some studies suggest that it is needed in the formation of the cytoskeleton and the locomotory apparatus.