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Do plant cells secrete exosomes derived from multivesicular bodies?

Qianli An1, Aart Je van Bel, Ralph Hückelhoven

  • 1Institute of General Botany; Justus-Liebig-University Giessen; Giessen, Germany.

Plant Signaling & Behavior
|August 26, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) secrete exosome-like vesicles in plants. This secretion occurs via MVB fusion with the plasma membrane, a process observed during plant defense responses.

Area of Science:

  • Plant cell biology
  • Endosomal trafficking
  • Extracellular vesicle biology

Background:

  • Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are endosomal organelles containing intraluminal vesicles.
  • In animal cells, MVBs release intraluminal vesicles as exosomes via plasma membrane fusion.
  • Paramural vesicles in plants share morphological and locational similarities with exosomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the occurrence and role of MVB-mediated exosome secretion in plants.
  • To highlight the potential secretion pathway of exosome-like vesicles in plant defense mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Transmission electron microscopy to visualize paramural vesicles.
  • Observation of MVB and paramural vesicle proliferation during plant-fungal interactions and hypersensitive responses.

Main Results:

  • Paramural vesicles, similar to exosomes, are found between the plasma membrane and cell wall in plants.
  • MVBs and paramural vesicles increase during rapid cell wall deposition and plasmodesmata plugging.
  • Evidence suggests MVB fusion with the plasma membrane for exosome-like vesicle release in plants.

Conclusions:

  • MVB-mediated secretion of exosome-like vesicles is a potential pathway in plants.
  • This secretion mechanism may be involved in plant cell wall-associated processes and defense.
  • Recalls attention to a previously proposed MVB-mediated secretion pathway in plants based on earlier studies.
Keywords:
cell wallendocytosisendosomeexocytosisexosomemultivesicular bodyparamural body

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