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Plasmodesmata: intercellular tunnels facilitating transport of macromolecules in plants

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Abstract

In plants, intercellular structures named plasmodesmata (PD) form a continuous cytoplasmic network between neighboring cells. PD pores provide channels for intercellular symplasmic (cell-to-cell) transport throughout most tissues of the plant body. Cell-defining proteins, such as transcription factors, and regulatory non-coding sequences, such as short interfering RNA, micro RNA, protein-encoding messenger RNAs, viroids, and viral RNA/DNA genomes move via PD channels to adjacent cells. PD-mediated intercellular transport of macromolecules is a regulated process depending on the tissue, developmental stage, and nature of the transported macromolecule. In this review, PD channels and their similarity to tunneling nanotubes present in animals are highlighted. In addition, homeodomain protein movement and cellular components regulating transport are discussed.

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Abbreviations

CPC:

CAPRICE

ER:

Endoplasmic reticulum

GFP:

Green fluorescent protein

HD:

Homeodomain protein

KN1:

KNOTTED1

miRNA:

Micro RNA

MP:

Movement protein

MPB2C:

MOVEMENT PROTEIN BINDING PROTEIN 2C

NCAP:

Non-cell autonomous protein

PD:

Plasmodesmata

siRNA:

Small interfering RNA

TMV:

Tobacco mosaic virus

TNTs:

Tunneling nanotubes

TTG1:

TRANSPARENT TESTA GLABRA 1

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Acknowledgments

I apologize to all of my colleagues whose work was not mentioned or addressed in depth because of space limitations. I thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments for improving the manuscript.

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  1. Department II, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Wissenschaftspark Golm,Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany

    Friedrich Kragler

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Kragler, F. Plasmodesmata: intercellular tunnels facilitating transport of macromolecules in plants. Cell Tissue Res 352, 49–58 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-012-1550-1

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