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Related Concept Videos

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...
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.
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...
Plasmids01:28

Plasmids

Plasmids are extrachromosomal DNA molecules found in bacteria, archaea, and some eukaryotic microbes like yeast. These small, circular DNA structures typically contain fewer than 30 genes, although some may exist linearly. Plasmids vary in their number within a cell, known as copy number. Single-copy plasmids are present in one copy per cell and multi-copy plasmids are present in multiple copies, reaching over 100 copies per cell.Plasmids usually replicate independently of the chromosomal DNA...
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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Confocal Microscopy Analysis of Protein Sorting to Plasmodesmata in Nicotiana benthamiana
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Confocal Microscopy Analysis of Protein Sorting to Plasmodesmata in Nicotiana benthamiana

Published on: November 1, 2024

Plasmodesmata "in Communicado".

Andy Maule1, Christine Faulkner, Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso

  • 1Department Disease and Stress Biology, John Innes Centre Norwich, UK.

Frontiers in Plant Science
|May 31, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cell-to-cell communication relies on pathways like plasmodesmata (PD). Researching PD structure and function is crucial but hindered by technical challenges, requiring future research priorities.

Keywords:
callosecell-to-cell communicationmolecular fluxplasmodesmata

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Area of Science:

  • Plant biology
  • Cell biology
  • Molecular biology

Background:

  • Multicellular life depends on cell-to-cell communication via electrical, chemical, or molecular signals.
  • Molecular communication occurs through extracellular pathways or plasmodesmata (PD), which connect adjacent cell cytoplasms.
  • Plasmodesmata (PD) are vital for symplast continuity, impacting tissue growth, development, and defense.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review advances in understanding plasmodesmata (PD) structure, trafficked molecules, and affected processes.
  • To identify technical and experimental difficulties hindering plasmodesmata (PD) research.
  • To propose future research priorities for accelerating advancements in the field.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent advances in plasmodesmata (PD) research.
  • Analysis of technical and experimental challenges in studying plasmodesmata (PD).
  • Synthesis of current knowledge to propose future research directions.

Main Results:

  • Despite advances, knowledge of plasmodesmata (PD) structure and function remains rudimentary.
  • Significant technical and experimental hurdles impede comprehensive plasmodesmata (PD) research.
  • Key areas for future research are identified to overcome current limitations.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding plasmodesmata (PD) is essential for comprehending multicellular organismal functions.
  • Overcoming research challenges requires innovative technical and experimental approaches.
  • Strategic future research efforts are necessary to significantly advance the field of plasmodesmata (PD) biology.