Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Plasmodesmata02:32

Plasmodesmata

33.7K
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.
33.7K
Contact-dependent Signaling01:19

Contact-dependent Signaling

45.3K
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...
45.3K
The Apoplast and Symplast01:46

The Apoplast and Symplast

51.9K
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...
51.9K
Cell Adhesion in Plants01:14

Cell Adhesion in Plants

2.9K
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,...
2.9K
Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions01:14

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

27.0K
The complex three-dimensional arrangement of cells in any multicellular organism is defined and maintained by interactions of cells with each other and the extracellular matrix. Cell-cell junctions are specialized structures where the multi-protein complexes on one cell interact with the multi-protein complexes on another  cell. These cell junctions are classified  into three main types based on their function — occluding, anchoring, and gap junctions.
Occluding or Tight...
27.0K
The Phragmoplast01:59

The Phragmoplast

5.5K
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...
5.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Breaking Through to the Other Side: How Plant Viruses Modify Plasmodesmata and the Plant Cell Wall.

Annual review of phytopathology·2026
Same author

Tetrapyrrole biosynthetic intermediates act as chloroplast-to-nucleus retrograde signals to regulate intercellular trafficking via plasmodesmata.

The New phytologist·2026
Same author

Plasmodesmata.

Journal of experimental botany·2026
Same author

Chloroplast Stress Signals Orchestrate Epidermis-Specific Remodeling of Mitochondria and ER Under High Light.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026
Same author

Regulation of cell-to-cell trafficking by viral movement proteins.

Journal of experimental botany·2025
Same author

Glucosinolates can act as signals to modulate intercellular trafficking via plasmodesmata.

The New phytologist·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 12, 2025

Author Spotlight: Microscopic Analysis of Protein Localization at Plasmodesmata in Plants
05:54

Author Spotlight: Microscopic Analysis of Protein Localization at Plasmodesmata in Plants

Published on: November 1, 2024

2.4K

Approaches for investigating plasmodesmata and effective communication.

Amie F Sankoh1, Tessa M Burch-Smith1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States.

Current Opinion in Plant Biology
|November 26, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Plasmodesmata (PD) are vital plant cell channels for communication and nutrient sharing, crucial for growth. This review explores methods to study PD structure and function, promoting lab inclusivity.

Keywords:
CommunicationDeafFluorescence microscopyHard-of-hearingImagingIntercellular traffickingPlasmodesmataScanning electron microscopyTransmission electron microscopy

More Related Videos

Identification of Plasmodesmal Localization Sequences in Proteins In Planta
08:07

Identification of Plasmodesmal Localization Sequences in Proteins In Planta

Published on: August 15, 2017

8.4K
A Strategy to Validate the Role of Callose-mediated Plasmodesmal Gating in the Tropic Response
12:18

A Strategy to Validate the Role of Callose-mediated Plasmodesmal Gating in the Tropic Response

Published on: April 17, 2016

10.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 12, 2025

Author Spotlight: Microscopic Analysis of Protein Localization at Plasmodesmata in Plants
05:54

Author Spotlight: Microscopic Analysis of Protein Localization at Plasmodesmata in Plants

Published on: November 1, 2024

2.4K
Identification of Plasmodesmal Localization Sequences in Proteins In Planta
08:07

Identification of Plasmodesmal Localization Sequences in Proteins In Planta

Published on: August 15, 2017

8.4K
A Strategy to Validate the Role of Callose-mediated Plasmodesmal Gating in the Tropic Response
12:18

A Strategy to Validate the Role of Callose-mediated Plasmodesmal Gating in the Tropic Response

Published on: April 17, 2016

10.4K

Area of Science:

  • Plant Cell Biology
  • Plant Physiology
  • Cellular Communication

Background:

  • Plasmodesmata (PD) are essential plant cell wall channels facilitating intercellular communication, signaling, and transport.
  • Understanding PD structure and function is critical for plant growth, survival, and resource allocation.
  • Existing research has focused on PD generation, structural refinement, and regulation of intercellular trafficking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current and emerging approaches for studying plasmodesmata structure and function.
  • To highlight methods with potential for wider adoption in plasmodesmata cell biology research.
  • To discuss strategies for enhancing diversity and accessibility in research laboratories, particularly for deaf/hard-of-hearing colleagues.

Main Methods:

  • Overview of various techniques employed to investigate plasmodesmata.
  • Discussion of methodologies suitable for addressing key questions in plasmodesmata cell biology.
  • Exploration of communication strategies to improve laboratory inclusivity.

Main Results:

  • Identified and highlighted promising approaches for studying plasmodesmata structure and function.
  • Emphasized the importance of effective communication for fostering diversity and accessibility in research settings.
  • Showcased successful strategies for the inclusion of deaf/hard-of-hearing individuals in laboratory environments.

Conclusions:

  • The review provides a valuable resource for researchers studying plasmodesmata, suggesting advanced methodologies.
  • Effective communication and inclusive practices are paramount for scientific advancement and laboratory diversity.
  • Adoption of highlighted strategies can significantly improve accessibility for all researchers, including those with hearing impairments.