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Plasmodesmata

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.

The Apoplast and Symplast

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...

Contact-dependent Signaling

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...

Short-distance Transport of Resources

Short-distance Transport of Resources

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.

Tonicity in Plants

Tonicity in Plants

Tonicity describes the capacity of a cell to lose or gain water. It depends on the quantity of solute that does not penetrate the membrane. Tonicity delimits the magnitude and direction of osmosis and results in three possible scenarios that alter the volume of a cell: hypertonicity, hypotonicity, and isotonicity. Due to differences in structure and physiology, tonicity of plant cells is different from that of animal cells in some scenarios.

Xylem and Transpiration-driven Transport of Resources

Xylem and Transpiration-driven Transport of Resources

The xylem of vascular plants distributes water and dissolved minerals that are taken up by the roots to the rest of the plant. The cells that transport xylem sap are dead upon maturity, and the movement of xylem sap is a passive process.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2025

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

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

Published on: November 1, 2024

Plasmodesmata: Channels Under Pressure.

Emmanuelle M Bayer¹, Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso²

¹Laboratoire de Biogenèse Membranaire (LBM), CNRS UMR5200, Université de Bordeaux, Villenave D'Ornon, France;

Annual Review of Plant Biology

|February 29, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Plant cells communicate via plasmodesmata, enabling cooperation and adaptation. This review explores how these channels form, function, and respond to environmental changes for plant growth.

Keywords:

abiotic stress biotic stress callose non-cell-autonomous proteins plant hormones plasmodesma symplasmic intercellular trafficking

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Shootward Movement of CFDA Tracer Loaded in the Bottom Sink Tissues of Arabidopsis

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Identification of Plasmodesmal Localization Sequences in Proteins In Planta

Identification of Plasmodesmal Localization Sequences in Proteins In Planta

Published on: August 15, 2017

Area of Science:

Plant Biology
Cell Biology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Multicellularity allows for cellular cooperation and specialization, but requires intercellular communication.
In plants, plasmodesmata are key channels for direct cell-to-cell transfer of molecules.
These channels regulate crucial processes like growth, development, and stress responses.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the formation and function of plasmodesmata.
To examine the plant communication network's response to developmental and environmental cues.
To illustrate how environmental pressures influence cellular interactions and plant adaptation.

Main Methods:

Literature review on plasmodesmata formation and function.
Analysis of plant communication networks.
Examination of plant responses to environmental cues.

Main Results:

Plasmodesmata are dynamic structures embedded in the extracellular matrix.
Intercellular communication via plasmodesmata is flexible and adaptable.
Environmental pressures shape cellular interactions, aiding plant adaptation.

Conclusions:

Plasmodesmata are vital for multicellular plant life, facilitating communication and adaptation.
The plant communication network is responsive to both internal development and external environmental signals.
Understanding plasmodesmata is crucial for comprehending plant adaptation strategies.