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Related Concept Videos

The Apoplast and Symplast01:46

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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...
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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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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.
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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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Specialized tissues in plant roots have evolved to capture water, minerals, and some ions from the soil. Roots exhibit a variety of branching patterns that facilitate this process. The outermost root cells have specialized structures called root hairs that increase the root surface, thus increasing soil contact. Water can passively cross into roots, as the concentration of water in the soil is higher than that of the root tissue. Minerals, in contrast, are actively transported into root cells.
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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.
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Plasmodesmata and the symplast.

Christine Faulkner1

  • 1John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UH, UK.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Multicellular organisms require cell communication for growth and development. This intercellular coordination ensures tissues and organs function together, enabling responses to environmental changes.

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Area of Science:

  • * Cellular Biology
  • * Developmental Biology
  • * Physiology

Background:

  • * Multicellular organisms depend on intricate cell-to-cell communication and resource exchange.
  • * Complex anatomies in multicellular life develop through regulated intercellular coordination mechanisms.
  • * Historical observations highlight the necessity of organism-wide continuity and cell connections for physiological coordination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To emphasize the fundamental role of intercellular communication in multicellular organisms.
  • * To underscore the importance of cell-to-cell signaling in coordinating growth, development, and environmental responses.
  • * To establish intercellular communication as a critical factor in tissue- and organ-wide biological processes.

Main Methods:

  • * Literature review and synthesis of established biological principles.
  • * Analysis of historical scientific observations on organismal coordination.
  • * Conceptual framework development based on existing knowledge of cell biology and physiology.

Main Results:

  • * Intercellular communication is essential for coordinating diverse biological processes across tissues and organs.
  • * Regulated mechanisms of intercellular coordination underpin the development of complex multicellular anatomies.
  • * The transport of material and messages between cells is vital for organism-wide physiological responses.

Conclusions:

  • * Intercellular communication is an integral and indispensable component of multicellular life.
  • * Effective coordination of cellular activities is crucial for organismal survival and adaptation.
  • * Understanding intercellular communication pathways is key to comprehending multicellular organism function.