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The Phragmoplast

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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.
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The Endoplasmic Reticulum

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Plasmodesmata

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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Visualizing Stromule Frequency with Fluorescence Microscopy

Visualizing Stromule Frequency with Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: November 23, 2016

Plastid stromule branching coincides with contiguous endoplasmic reticulum dynamics.

Martin Schattat¹, Kiah Barton, Bianca Baudisch

¹Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G2W1.

Plant Physiology

|January 29, 2011

Summary

Stromules, dynamic extensions of plastids, move in tandem with cortical endoplasmic reticulum (ER) tubules. This close association suggests the ER influences stromule shape and function, potentially facilitating metabolite exchange.

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Published on: February 18, 2014

Area of Science:

Plant cell biology
Organelle dynamics
Membrane contact sites

Background:

Stromules are dynamic, stroma-filled tubules extending from plastids.
Their function in interplastidic communication and metabolite exchange is suggested but not fully understood.
The basis for stromule morphology changes like dilations and branches remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the dynamic behavior of stromules using live imaging.
To identify potential interacting partners and mechanisms influencing stromule morphology.
To elucidate the relationship between stromules and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

Main Methods:

Live imaging of fluorescent protein-highlighted stromules and ER in diverse plant cell types.
Covisualization of stromule and ER dynamics.
Three-dimensional and four-dimensional volume rendering.

Main Results:

Stromule behavior, including extension, retraction, and branching, strongly coincides with the dynamics of cortical ER tubules.
Stromules extending into cortical regions appear to occupy channels between ER tubules.
Correlative dynamics suggest direct interaction or shared regulatory mechanisms between stromules and ER.

Conclusions:

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane is closely associated with stromules, influencing their behavior.
The ER may directly shape stromules, or both organelles may be regulated by a shared cytoskeleton-based mechanism.
Interactions between stromules and ER suggest they serve as conduits for bidirectional metabolite exchange.