EFFECTS OF BREFELDIN-A ON THE FORMATION OF THE CELL PLATE IN TOBACCO BY-2 CELLS

Treatment,vith 20 mu M brefeldin A (BFA) for 60 min caused the disasse mbly of the Golgi apparatus in tobacco BY-2 cells, and the effect of B FA was reversible, Connections between Golgi cisternae and the ER were observed in cells that had been treated for 15 min dth BFA. BFA appli ed to cells at metaphase allowed the cells to form aniline blue-positi ve cell plates but not to complete cytokinesis. BFA seems to inhibit c ytokinesis by shutting off the supply of cell-plate materials by disas sembling the Golgi apparatus.