About the Cover
Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases) were initially studied in animal cells because of their association with cell division. The importance of mitogenic stimulation in plant development has aroused considerable interest in identifying plant MAP kinase homologs. On pages 101-113 of this issue, Bögre et al. describe MMK3, an alfalfa MAP kinase whose activation kinetics during mitosis correlate with the timing of phragmoplast formation. Immunolocalization experiments demonstrate that MMK3 begins to accumulate between the segregating chromosomes during anaphase in alfalfa root tip cells. As shown on the cover, by telophase, MMK3 becomes concentrated across the presumptive plane of cell division (red). At this stage of mitosis, the two sets of chromosomes have separated (blue), and the phragmoplast microtubules are redistributed to the edges of the cell plate (green). Together, these data suggest that MMK3 is involved in the regulation of plant cytokinesis.
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Copyright © 2007 by the American Society of Plant Biologists
