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Related Concept Videos

Plasmodesmata02:32

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.Intercellular junctions are a feature of fungal, plant, and animal cells alike. However, different types of junctions are found in different kinds of cells. Intercellular junctions found in animal...
Plasmodesmata01:20

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...
Contact-dependent Signaling01:19

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...
The Apoplast and Symplast01:46

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...
Xylem and Transpiration-driven Transport of Resources02:03

Xylem and Transpiration-driven Transport of Resources

The xylem of vascular plants distributes water and dissolved minerals that are taken up by the roots to the rest of the plant. The cells that transport xylem sap are dead upon maturity, and the movement of xylem sap is a passive process.
Short-distance Transport of Resources02:12

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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Evidence for unidirectional flow through plasmodesmata.

Nynne Meyn Christensen1, Christine Faulkner, Karl Oparka

  • 1Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, United Kingdom.

Plant Physiology
|March 10, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Tobacco leaf trichomes exhibit unidirectional transport of solutes through plasmodesmata (PD). This active transport mechanism is specific to the epidermal/trichome interface, suggesting specialized molecular movement in plants.

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Area of Science:

  • Plant Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Transport

Background:

  • Tobacco leaf trichomes are unique secretory structures.
  • The basal trichome cell connects to the epidermis via numerous plasmodesmata (PD).
  • Understanding solute movement across the epidermal/trichome (e/t) interface is crucial for plant physiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the directionality and mechanism of solute transport across the PD at the e/t boundary in tobacco leaf trichomes.
  • To determine if transport is passive or active and identify potential driving forces.
  • To assess the influence of external factors like viral infection and inhibitors on transport.

Main Methods:

  • Microinjection of fluorescent probes into basal trichome and epidermal cells.
  • Noninvasive dye loading techniques (trichome capping, caged fluorescein infiltration).
  • Expression and activation of photoactivatable green fluorescent protein (PAGFP) in transgenic tobacco.
  • Apoplastic tracer experiments.
  • Treatment with actin inhibitor (latrunculin) and metabolic inhibitor (sodium azide).

Main Results:

  • Solutes moved apically into trichome cells from the basal cell but not into the epidermis.
  • Solutes injected into epidermal cells moved apically into trichome cells.
  • PAGFP and fluorescent probes showed unidirectional movement across the e/t boundary.
  • An apoplastic barrier was identified at the e/t interface.
  • Transport was not affected by virus infection or latrunculin but was inhibited by sodium azide, indicating an active process.
  • Bidirectional movement from intermediate cells suggested mass flow was not the primary driver.

Conclusions:

  • A distinct, unidirectional transport system exists at the epidermal/trichome plasmodesmata interface in tobacco.
  • This transport is likely active and requires metabolic energy, as indicated by sodium azide sensitivity.
  • The findings suggest specialized molecular trafficking mechanisms at unique cellular interfaces in plants.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the specific molecular machinery involved in this active, unidirectional transport.