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Plasmodesmata

Plasmodesmata

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.

Plasmodesmata

Plasmodesmata

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...

The Apoplast and Symplast

The Apoplast and Symplast

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...

Contact-dependent Signaling

Contact-dependent Signaling

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...

Cell Adhesion in Plants

Cell Adhesion in Plants

Plants have rigid cell walls that are made up of cell wall polysaccharides that mediate cell-cell adhesion. The primary cell walls of plants consist of two independent and interacting polysaccharide networks: a pectin matrix that embeds the second network comprising cellulose and hemicelluloses.
Pectins are complex heteropolymers mainly composed of negatively-charged α-D-glucopyranosyl uronic acid and some neutral glycosyl residues such as α-L-rhamnopyranose, α-L-arabinofuranose,...

Short-distance Transport of Resources

Short-distance Transport of Resources

Short-distance transport refers to transport that occurs over a distance of just 2-3 cells, crossing the plasma membrane in the process. Small uncharged molecules, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water, can diffuse across the plasma membrane on their own. In contrast, ions and larger molecules require the assistance of transport proteins due to their charge or size. Transport across membranes also occurs within individual cells, playing a variety of essential roles for the plant as a whole.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Author Spotlight: Microscopic Analysis of Protein Localization at Plasmodesmata in Plants

Author Spotlight: Microscopic Analysis of Protein Localization at Plasmodesmata in Plants

Published on: November 1, 2024

Plasmodesmata as a supracellular control network in plants.

William J Lucas¹, Jung-Youn Lee

¹Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA. wjlucas@ucdavis.edu

Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology

|September 2, 2004

Summary

Intercellular communication, particularly through plant plasmodesmata, is crucial for organism complexity. This pathway facilitates the movement of proteins and RNA, influencing plant development.

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Author Spotlight: Microscopic Analysis of Protein Localization at Plasmodesmata in Plants

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Identification of Plasmodesmal Localization Sequences in Proteins In Planta

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Area of Science:

Plant Biology
Cell Biology
Developmental Biology

Background:

Intercellular communication is vital for the evolution of complex multicellular and supracellular organisms.
Plasmodesmata are specialized intercellular channels in plants facilitating communication.
This communication pathway is essential for local and long-distance signaling in plants.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the role of intercellular communication in organismal complexity.
To describe the function of plasmodesmata in plant signaling.
To explain the mechanism of non-cell-autonomous gene regulation in plants.

Main Methods:

Literature review on intercellular communication and plasmodesmata.
Analysis of existing research on protein and RNA trafficking in plants.
Synthesis of information on developmental effects mediated by plasmodesmata.

Main Results:

Plasmodesmata provide an effective pathway for both local and long-distance signaling in plants.
Trafficking of proteins and RNA through plasmodesmata is a key feature in higher plants.
These mobile molecules non-cell-autonomously regulate developmental programs.

Conclusions:

The evolution of intercellular communication via plasmodesmata was fundamental for increasing organismal complexity.
Plasmodesmata-mediated transport of proteins and RNA plays a critical role in plant development.
Understanding this pathway offers insights into plant growth and adaptation.