Changes in vacuolar and mitochondrial motility and tubularity in response to zinc in a Paxillus involutus isolate from a zinc-rich soil.

Short-term effects of zinc on organelles were investigated in Paxillus involutus from a zinc-rich soil. Vacuoles were labelled with Oregon Green 488 carboxylic acid and mitochondria with DiOC(6)(3). Hyphae were treated with ZnSO(4) in the range 1-100 mM and examined by fluorescence microscopy. ZnSO(4) caused loss of tubularity and motility in both organelles depending on concentration and exposure time. Tubular vacuoles thickened after 15 min in 5 mM ZnSO(4) and became spherical at higher concentrations. Mitochondria fragmented after 30 min in 25 mM ZnSO(4). Vacuoles recovered their tubularity after transfer to reverse osmosis water depending on ZnSO(4) concentration and exposure time during treatment. Mitochondria recovered their tubularity with time, both with and without removal of the ZnSO(4) solution. K(2)SO(4) (as control) had no effect on vacuoles but disrupted mitochondria, the effect also depending on concentration and duration of exposure.

Ni2+ induces changes in the morphology of vacuoles, mitochondria and microtubules in Paxillus involutus cells.

Organelles of ectomycorrhizal fungi are known to respond to changes in the extracellular environment. The response of vacuoles, mitochondria and microtubules to short-term nickel (Ni2+) exposure were investigated in hyphal tip cells of a Paxillus involutus from a heavy metal-rich soil. Vacuoles, mitochondria and microtubules were labelled with Oregon Green 488 carboxylic acid diacetate, 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6(3)) and anti-alpha-tubulin antibodies, respectively; hyphae were treated with NiSO4 in the range of 0-1 mmol l(-1) and examined microscopically. Untreated hyphal tip cells contained tubular vacuole and mitochondrial networks. Ni2+ caused loss of organelle tubularity and severe microtubule disruption that were exposure-time and concentration dependent. Fine tubular vacuoles thickened and eventually became spherical in some hyphae, tubular mitochondria fragmented and microtubules shortened and aggregated into patches in most hyphae. Tubular vacuoles reformed on NiSO4 removal and tubular mitochondria in the presence of NiSO4 suggesting cellular detoxification. These results demonstrate that Ni2+ induces changes in organelle and microtubule morphology. Recovery of tubular organelles to pretreatment morphology after Ni2+ exposure suggests cellular detoxification of the metal ion.