KATANIN-mediated microtubule severing is required for MTOC organisation and function in Marchantia polymorpha.

Microtubule organising centres (MTOCs) are sites of localised microtubule nucleation in eukaryotic cells. Regulation of microtubule dynamics often involves KATANIN (KTN); a microtubule severing enzyme which cuts microtubules to generate new negative ends leading to catastrophic depolymerisation. In Arabidopsis thaliana, KTN is required for the organisation of microtubules in the cell cortex, preprophase band, mitotic spindle and phragmoplast. However, as angiosperms lack MTOCs, the role of KTN in MTOC formation has yet to be studied in plants. Two unique MTOCs - the polar organisers - form on opposing sides of the preprophase nucleus in liverworts. Here we show that KTN-mediated microtubule depolymerisation regulates the number and organisation of polar organisers formed in Marchantia polymorpha. Mpktn mutants that lack KTN function had supernumerary, disorganised polar organisers compared to wild type. This was in addition to defects in the microtubule organisation in the cell cortex, preprophase band, mitotic spindle, and phragmoplast. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that KTN-mediated microtubule dynamics are required for the de novo formation of MTOCs, a novel function in plants.