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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...

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,...

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.

Water and Mineral Acquisition

Water and Mineral Acquisition

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.

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 14, 2025

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

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

Published on: April 17, 2016

A developmental switch controls cell-to-cell transport in roots via pectin-linked plasmodesmata changes.

Léa Jacquier¹, Celeste Aurora Fiorenza¹, Kevin Robe¹

¹Department of Plant Sciences, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest Ansermet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.

Molecular Plant

|July 19, 2025

Summary

Plasmodesmata enable cell-to-cell communication in Arabidopsis roots, even in mature tissues. This study reveals a developmental switch in transport directionality and identifies pectin

Keywords:

endodermis pectin plasmodesmata rhamnose root transport

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Last Updated: Sep 14, 2025

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

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

Published on: April 17, 2016

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

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Published on: November 1, 2024

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

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

Published on: May 11, 2019

Area of Science:

Plant Biology
Cell Biology
Developmental Biology

Background:

Cell-to-cell communication is essential for multicellular organisms.
Plasmodesmata are cytoplasmic channels connecting plant cells, crucial for molecule transport.
In plant roots, plasmodesmata are vital for nutrient acquisition and distribution.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate plasmodesmatal transport in differentiated Arabidopsis roots.
To identify the developmental regulation of plasmodesmatal function and directionality.
To uncover the molecular mechanisms controlling plasmodesmatal aperture and transport.

Main Methods:

Demonstration of persistent plasmodesmatal transport in mature Arabidopsis roots.
Identification of a developmental switch from bidirectional to unidirectional transport.
Genetic screening to identify mutants with altered plasmodesmatal directionality.
Analysis of pectin composition and cell wall organization in mutant lines.

Main Results:

Plasmodesmatal transport continues in differentiated Arabidopsis roots, bypassing apoplastic barriers.
A developmental switch causes transport to become unidirectional towards the vasculature in mature roots.
Mutants with impaired directionality exhibit enlarged plasmodesmatal apertures.
Defects in pectin composition and cell wall organization underlie altered plasmodesmatal function.

Conclusions:

Plasmodesmata are critical for intercellular transport in mature plant roots.
Plasmodesmata-mediated transport is dynamically regulated during root development.
Pectin plays a key role in regulating plasmodesmatal aperture and intercellular communication.