Microtubule-associated proteins in plants

1. Abstract and key words MTs are one of the basic cellular protein structure. Their features and function are influenced and modified by group of other proteins, i.e. microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). In the last decades, an extensive research on MAPs and their wide range of functions has been carried out. Therefore we are aware of the involvement of some of the MAPs in MT dynamics, other have been shown to have rather structural function. They bundle MTs with various cell structures, such as the other MTs, proteins, organelles, actin cytoskeleton or plasma membrane. Many described MAPs are homologous in the whole eukaryotic domain, for example MAP65 or EB1 (END BINDING 1) family, therefore it is interesting to follow if and how the functions of plant MAPs differ from their animal counterparts. On the other hand, there are many specific MAPs with unique functions in plants, e.g. ATK5 or SPR1 (SPIRAL 1). This Bachelor thesis is a survey on current knowledge of plant MAPs and it makes an effort to present their characteristic and functions in plant cell and organism. Key words: cytoskeleton, microtubules, microtubule-associated proteins, plant cell, growth and development