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Updated: Jul 25, 2025

A Cell-to-cell Macromolecular Transport Assay in Planta Utilizing Biolistic Bombardment
Published on: August 27, 2010
Traveling with purpose: cell-to-cell transport of plant mRNAs
Munenori Kitagawa1, Thu M Tran2, David Jackson2
1National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
Abstract:
Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in multicellular organisms can act as signals transported cell-to-cell and over long distances. In plants, mRNAs traffic cell-to-cell via plasmodesmata (PDs) and over long distances via the phloem vascular system to control diverse biological processes - such as cell fate and tissue patterning - in destination organs. Research on long-distance transport of mRNAs in plants has made remarkable progress, including the cataloguing of many mobile mRNAs, characterization of mRNA features important for transport, identification of mRNA-binding proteins involved in their transport, and understanding of the physiological roles of mRNA transport. However, information on short-range mRNA cell-to-cell transport is still limited. This review discusses the regulatory mechanisms and physiological functions of mRNA transport at the cellular and whole plant levels.
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