Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026
07:14
A Cell-to-cell Macromolecular Transport Assay in Planta Utilizing Biolistic Bombardment
Published on: August 27, 2010
11.0K
Plasmodesmata and plant viruses. A centenary story
S Pennazio1, P Roggero, M Conti
1Istituto di Fitovirologia applicata del C.N.R., Torino, Italy.
The New Microbiologica
|November 11, 1999
Summary
Plant viruses move between cells through plasmodesmata, facilitated by a viral movement protein that increases pore permeability. This essential viral transport mechanism is a key area of plant virology research.
Area of Science:
- Plant Virology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Plant viruses spread between cells via plasmodesmata, protoplasmic connections facilitating intercellular communication.
- Early hypotheses suggested plasmodesmata as viral pathways, later confirmed by electron microscopy.
Observation:
- Viral movement through plasmodesmata was investigated starting in the 1970s.
- A specific protein encoded by the tobacco mosaic virus was identified as crucial for cell-to-cell transport.
Findings:
- The viral movement protein enhances plasmodesmata permeability, enabling virus passage.
- Polycistronic viral genomes play a role in this intercellular transport mechanism.
Implications:
- Understanding virus-cell interactions at plasmodesmata is vital for plant disease management.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex mechanisms of viral spread.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Contact-dependent Signaling
40.2K
Contact-dependent signaling, as the name suggests, requires that communicating cells be in direct contact with each other. This is achieved either through receptor-ligand interactions or by specialized cytoplasmic channels that allow the flow of small molecules between cells. In animal cells, channels called gap junctions facilitate contact-dependent signaling in certain tissues, whereas, plasmodesmata perform a similar function in plants.
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
40.2K
02:32Plasmodesmata
30.0K
The organs in a multicellular organism’s body are made up of tissues formed by cells. To work together cohesively, cells must communicate. One way that cells communicate is through direct contact with other cells. The points of contact that connect adjacent cells are called intercellular junctions.
30.0K
01:46The Apoplast and Symplast
51.4K
Plant growth depends on its ability to take up water and dissolved minerals from the soil. The root system of every plant is equipped with the necessary tissues to facilitate the entry of water and solutes. The plant tissues involved in the transport of water and minerals have two major compartments - the apoplast and the symplast. The apoplast includes everything outside the plasma membrane of living cells and consists of cell walls, extracellular spaces, xylem, phloem, and tracheids. The...
51.4K
01:20Plasmodesmata
3.8K
In a multicellular organism, cells must communicate to work together in a coordinated manner. One way that cells communicate is through direct contact with other cells. The points of contact that connect adjacent cells are called intercellular junctions.
Intercellular junctions are a feature of fungal, plant, and animal cells. However, different types of junctions are found in different kinds of cells. Intercellular junctions found in animal cells include tight junctions, gap junctions, and...
Intercellular junctions are a feature of fungal, plant, and animal cells. However, different types of junctions are found in different kinds of cells. Intercellular junctions found in animal cells include tight junctions, gap junctions, and...
3.8K
01:29Subviral Agents
933
Subviral agents are infectious entities that resemble viruses but lack one or more viral components, such as a capsid or essential replication machinery. These agents include viroids, prions, and satellites, each possessing distinct structural and functional characteristics that influence their mode of infection and replication.Viroids are the simplest subviral agents, consisting of circular, single-stranded RNA molecules without a protein coat. They exclusively infect plants, relying entirely...
933
01:09Microbe-Plant Interactions
140
Microbe-plant interactions represent a dynamic spectrum of associations shaped by intricate chemical signaling. These interactions can be neutral, beneficial, or detrimental, and profoundly influence plant physiology, growth, and ecosystem function. The plant microbiome, comprising bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and viruses, plays a pivotal role in mediating these effects through surface colonization, internal colonization, or systemic symbiosis.Mutualistic associations, particularly with...
140