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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.

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...

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...

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.

Cell Adhesion in Plants

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,...

The Phragmoplast

The Phragmoplast

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Identification of Plasmodesmal Localization Sequences in Proteins In Planta

Identification of Plasmodesmal Localization Sequences in Proteins In Planta

Published on: August 15, 2017

Plasmodesmata and intercellular molecular traffic control.

Estee E Tee¹, Christine Faulkner¹

¹Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK.

The New Phytologist

|March 17, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Plasmodesmata form connections between plant cells, regulating molecular traffic. Their structure, composition, and aperture control what moves, impacting plant physiology.

Keywords:

cell‐to‐cell communication molecular trafficking multicellularity noncell autonomous signals plasmodesmata signalling

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A Cell-to-cell Macromolecular Transport Assay in Planta Utilizing Biolistic Bombardment

A Cell-to-cell Macromolecular Transport Assay in Planta Utilizing Biolistic Bombardment

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Last Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Identification of Plasmodesmal Localization Sequences in Proteins In Planta

Identification of Plasmodesmal Localization Sequences in Proteins In Planta

Published on: August 15, 2017

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

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Published on: November 1, 2024

A Cell-to-cell Macromolecular Transport Assay in Planta Utilizing Biolistic Bombardment

A Cell-to-cell Macromolecular Transport Assay in Planta Utilizing Biolistic Bombardment

Published on: August 27, 2010

Area of Science:

Plant Biology
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Plasmodesmata are crucial plasma membrane-lined channels connecting adjacent plant cells.
These channels establish a cytoplasmic continuum facilitating intercellular transport of molecules across various scales.
Dynamic regulation of plasmodesmal aperture influences the scope of molecular exchange.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the regulatory mechanisms governing molecular traffic through plasmodesmata.
To understand how plasmodesmal composition, structure, and aperture control intercellular transport.
To investigate the passage of diverse molecules, from small metabolites to larger RNAs.

Main Methods:

Analysis of plasmodesmal structure, composition, and density in different cell types.
Investigation of signaling cascades controlling plasmodesmal aperture.
Examination of molecular trafficking mechanisms, including passive and potentially active transport.

Main Results:

Plasmodesmal composition, shape, and density are key determinants of trafficking capacity.
Specialized signaling pathways modulate plasmodesmal aperture.
While small molecules traffic passively, mechanisms for larger molecule transport remain an active area of research.

Conclusions:

The formation, structure, composition, and molecular content of plasmodesmata are critical regulators of intercellular transport in plants.
Understanding these factors is essential for comprehending a wide range of plant physiological processes.
Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of large molecule trafficking through plasmodesmata.