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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...
The Phragmoplast01:59

The Phragmoplast

Cell division is essential for organismal growth and development. In animal cells, the central spindle and its associated proteins form the midbody, a structure that has an essential role in cytokinesis. In plants, the central spindle, along with the microtubules, actin, and other cell components, matures into the phragmoplast, which is necessary for cytokinesis. Unlike the stationary midbody, the phragmoplast expands centrifugally, eventually leading to the formation of the new cell wall.
The...
The Phragmoplast01:59

The Phragmoplast

Cell division is essential for organismal growth and development. In animal cells, the central spindle and its associated proteins form the midbody, a structure that has an essential role in cytokinesis. In plants, the central spindle, along with the microtubules, actin, and other cell components, matures into the phragmoplast, which is necessary for cytokinesis. Unlike the stationary midbody, the phragmoplast expands centrifugally, eventually leading to the formation of the new cell wall.
The...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Confocal Microscopy Analysis of Protein Sorting to Plasmodesmata in Nicotiana benthamiana
05:54

Confocal Microscopy Analysis of Protein Sorting to Plasmodesmata in Nicotiana benthamiana

Published on: November 1, 2024

Imaging plasmodesmata.

Karen Bell1, Karl Oparka

  • 1Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JR, UK.

Protoplasma
|November 13, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Plasmodesmata (PD), crucial cell connections, are too small for standard light microscopes. This review explores advanced imaging techniques like super-resolution microscopy for studying PD structure.

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Area of Science:

  • Plant biology
  • Cell biology
  • Microscopy

Background:

  • Plasmodesmata (PD) are microscopic channels connecting plant cells.
  • Their small size (50 nm) challenges conventional light microscopy.
  • Current understanding relies heavily on transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current methods for studying plasmodesmata (PD).
  • To focus on the capabilities of light- and electron-based imaging techniques for PD research.
  • To highlight advanced microscopy approaches for visualizing PD substructure.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on plasmodesmata imaging techniques.
  • Discussion of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM).
  • Analysis of super-resolution microscopy, including 3D-structured illumination microscopy (3D-SIM).

Main Results:

  • Conventional light microscopy cannot resolve plasmodesmata (PD) at 50 nm.
  • Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provides detailed substructure but has limitations.
  • Advanced techniques like FESEM and 3D-SIM offer improved resolution for PD imaging.

Conclusions:

  • Emerging imaging technologies are crucial for understanding plasmodesmata (PD) substructure.
  • Super-resolution microscopy bridges the gap between light and electron microscopy for PD studies.
  • Further application of these advanced methods will enhance our knowledge of PD function.