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Related Concept Videos

Animal and Plant Cell Structure01:30

Animal and Plant Cell Structure

Animal and plant cells not only differ in their structure, function, and mode of nutrition but also in how they reproduce, specialize, and organize into complex structures.
Cell Division
Though both plant and animal cells divide by mitosis (for non-gametic cells) and meiosis (for gametic cells), they differ in the specifics of this process. Unlike animal cells, plant cells lack centrosomes — an organelle responsible for organizing the spindle fibers and segregating the chromosomes during cell...
Determining the Plane of Cell Division02:13

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function. 
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...
Polarity of the Cytoskeleton01:18

Polarity of the Cytoskeleton

The intrinsic polarity of cells can be primarily attributed to two factors- i) the asymmetric accumulation of mobile components such are regulatory molecules and subcellular components across the cell and ii) the orientation of polar cytoskeletal filaments that make up the cytoskeletal networks, specifically microfilaments, and microtubules arranged along the axis of polarity. Interactions between the cytoskeletal filaments are crucial for the establishment and maintenance of the polar nature...
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...
Cell Adhesion in Plants01:14

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...

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Cell polarity in plants: when two do the same, it is not the same....

Jan Dettmer1, Jiří Friml

  • 1Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium.

Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|October 4, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Plant cell polarity, the asymmetric distribution of plasma membrane proteins, is crucial for development and environmental adaptation. Plants evolved unique mechanisms to establish and modify cell polarity, distinct from animal cells.

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Area of Science:

  • Plant Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Cell polarity, characterized by asymmetric protein distribution at the plasma membrane, is vital for unicellular and multicellular organisms.
  • In plants, polar localized proteins regulate cell morphogenesis, division, defense, nutrient transport, and hormone gradients for development.
  • Plants independently evolved multicellularity and possess distinct cell polarity mechanisms compared to animals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the unique mechanisms plants use to generate and respecify cell polarity.
  • To understand how plants regulate polar domains at the plasma membrane.
  • To highlight the adaptive flexibility of plant cell polarity in response to environmental changes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of polar localized proteins in plant plasma membranes.
  • Investigating mechanisms for generating and respecifying cell polarity in plants.
  • Comparative study of plant and animal cell polarity mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Plants utilize distinct molecular solutions for establishing and modifying cell polarity.
  • These mechanisms enable plants to adapt their physiology and development to environmental stimuli.
  • Regulation of polar domains at the plasma membrane is key to plant cell function.

Conclusions:

  • Plant cell polarity is a flexible and essential process for development and adaptation.
  • Plants have evolved unique strategies for cell polarity distinct from animal systems.
  • Understanding these mechanisms provides insight into plant resilience and growth.