Polymerization of fluorescent analogue of plant actin in vitro and in vivo

Maize pollen actin has been labeled with Oregon Green 488 iodoacetamide. A yield of 3 mg fluorescent actin analogue has been obtained from 10 mg of ma ize pollen actin, which is 99% in purity and the dye/protein ratio is 72%. in the presence of Mg2+ and K+, the fluorescent actin analogue polymerized into filaments in vitro. Green fluorescent filaments were observed when the fluorescent actin was introduced into living plant cells by microinjection , indicating that the fluorescent actin analogue functions similarly to the native actin.