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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...

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.

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, and...

Short-distance Transport of Resources

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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: May 30, 2026

Confocal Microscopy Analysis of Protein Sorting to Plasmodesmata in Nicotiana benthamiana

Confocal Microscopy Analysis of Protein Sorting to Plasmodesmata in Nicotiana benthamiana

Published on: November 1, 2024

Plasmodesmata - membrane tunnels with attitude.

Andrew J Maule¹, Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso, Christine Faulkner

¹John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom. andy.maule@jic.ac.uk

Current Opinion in Plant Biology

|August 9, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Plasmodesmata, crucial for plant growth, are dynamic channels regulated by molecular signals. Recent research reveals their membrane components are key to controlling molecular traffic and plant development.

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Area of Science:

Plant Biology
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Plasmodesmata are channels connecting plant cells, vital for physiological gradients and symplastic boundaries.
Their essential roles in plant growth, development, and defense are hindered by challenges in biochemical and molecular characterization.
Understanding plasmodesmata is crucial for plant science.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent evidence on the structure and function of plasmodesmata.
To highlight the roles of membrane subcomponents in plasmodesmata.
To elucidate the signaling mechanisms regulating plasmodesmata.

Main Methods:

Proteomic analysis
Biochemical assays
Cell biological studies
Genetic analysis

Main Results:

Plasmodesmata are plastic, highly regulated structures.
Small molecule signals, like reactive oxygen species, regulate plasmodesmata by altering the cell wall.
Membrane subcomponents act as structural elements and signaling platforms.

Conclusions:

Plasmodesmata are dynamically regulated by molecular signals and their membrane components.
These insights advance our understanding of plant growth, development, and defense mechanisms.
Future research can leverage this knowledge for targeted applications in plant science.