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Biology Open Oct 2023Cell-cell communication is a central feature of multicellular organisms, enabling division of labour and coordinated responses. Plasmodesmata are membrane-lined pores... (Review)
Review
Cell-cell communication is a central feature of multicellular organisms, enabling division of labour and coordinated responses. Plasmodesmata are membrane-lined pores that provide regulated cytoplasmic continuity between plant cells, facilitating signalling and transport across neighboring cells. Plant development and survival profoundly depend on the existence and functioning of these structures, bringing them to the spotlight for both fundamental and applied research. Despite the rich conceptual and translational rewards in sight, however, the study of plasmodesmata poses significant challenges. This Review will mostly focus on research published between May 2022 and May 2023 and intends to provide a short overview of recent discoveries, innovations, community resources and hypotheses.
Topics: Plasmodesmata; Cell Communication; Signal Transduction; Plant Development; Biology
PubMed: 37874138
DOI: 10.1242/bio.060123 -
Journal of Plant Physiology Mar 2022During multicellularization, plants evolved unique cell-cell connections, the plasmodesmata (PD). PD of angiosperms are complex cellular domains, embedded in the cell... (Review)
Review
During multicellularization, plants evolved unique cell-cell connections, the plasmodesmata (PD). PD of angiosperms are complex cellular domains, embedded in the cell wall and consisting of multiple membranes and a large number of proteins. From the beginning, it had been assumed that PD provide passage for a wide range of molecules, from ions to metabolites and hormones, to RNAs and even proteins. In the context of assimilate allocation, it has been hypothesized that sucrose produced in mesophyll cells is transported via PD from cell to cell down a concentration gradient towards the phloem. Entry into the sieve element companion cell complex (SECCC) is then mediated on three potential routes, depending on the species and conditions, - either via diffusion across PD, after conversion to raffinose via PD using a polymer trap mechanism, or via a set of transporters which secrete sucrose from one cell and secondary active uptake into the SECCC. Multiple loading mechanisms can likely coexist. We here review the current knowledge regarding photoassimilate transport across PD between cells as a prerequisite for translocation from leaves to recipient organs, in particular roots and developing seeds. We summarize the state-of-the-art in protein composition, structure, transport mechanism and regulation of PD to apprehend their functions in carbohydrate allocation. Since many aspects of PD biology remain elusive, we highlight areas that require new approaches and technologies to advance our understanding of these enigmatic and important cell-cell connections.
PubMed: 35151953
DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2022.153633 -
The New Phytologist Jan 2018Contents Summary 62 I. Introduction 62 II. Plasmodesmal regulation is an innate defence response 63 III. Reactive oxygen species regulate plasmodesmal function 63 IV.... (Review)
Review
Contents Summary 62 I. Introduction 62 II. Plasmodesmal regulation is an innate defence response 63 III. Reactive oxygen species regulate plasmodesmal function 63 IV. Plasmodesmal regulation by and of defence-associated small molecules 64 V. Plasmodesmata facilitate systemic defence signalling 64 VI. Virulent pathogens exploit plasmodesmata 66 VII. Outlook 66 Acknowledgements 66 References 66 SUMMARY: Plasmodesmata (PD) are plasma membrane-lined pores that connect neighbouring plant cells, bridging the cell wall and establishing cytoplasmic and membrane continuity between cells. PD are dynamic structures regulated by callose deposition in a variety of stress and developmental contexts. This process crudely controls the aperture of the pore and thus the flux of molecules between cells. During pathogen infection, plant cells initiate a range of immune responses and it was recently identified that, following perception of fungal and bacterial pathogens, plant cells initially close their PD. Systemic defence responses depend on the spread of signals between cells, raising questions about whether PD are in different functional states during different immune responses. It is well established that viral pathogens exploit PD to spread between cells, but it has more recently been identified that protein effectors secreted by fungal pathogens can spread between host cells via PD. It is possible that many classes of pathogens specifically target PD to aid infection, which would infer antagonistic regulation of PD by host and pathogen. How PD regulation benefits both host immune responses and pathogen infection is an important question and demands that we examine the multicellular nature of plant-pathogen interactions.
Topics: Cell Membrane; Cell Wall; Cytoplasm; Glucans; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Plant Cells; Plant Immunity; Plants; Plasmodesmata; Reactive Oxygen Species; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 29083038
DOI: 10.1111/nph.14857 -
Virology May 2015Replication and intercellular spread of viruses depend on host mechanisms supporting the formation, transport and turnover of functional complexes between viral genomes,... (Review)
Review
Replication and intercellular spread of viruses depend on host mechanisms supporting the formation, transport and turnover of functional complexes between viral genomes, virus-encoded products and cellular factors. To enhance these processes, viruses assemble and replicate in membrane-associated complexes that may develop into "virus factories" or "viroplasms" in which viral components and host factors required for replication are concentrated. Many plant viruses replicate in association with the cortical ER-actin network that is continuous between cells through plasmodesmata. The replication complexes can be highly organized and supported by network interactions between the viral genome and the virus-encoded proteins. Intracellular PD targeting of replication complexes links the process of movement to replication and provides specificity for transport of the viral genome by the virus-encoded movement proteins. The formation and trafficking of replication complexes and also the development and anchorage of replication factories involves important roles of the cortical cytoskeleton and associated motor proteins.
Topics: Biological Transport; Cytoskeleton; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Plant Diseases; Plant Viral Movement Proteins; Plant Viruses; Virus Replication
PubMed: 25746797
DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2015.01.025 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2022
PubMed: 35401632
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.840821 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2019Plant cells form a multicellular symplast via cytoplasmic bridges called plasmodesmata (Pd) and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that crosses almost all plant tissues. The... (Review)
Review
Plant cells form a multicellular symplast via cytoplasmic bridges called plasmodesmata (Pd) and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that crosses almost all plant tissues. The Pd proteome is mainly represented by secreted Pd-associated proteins (PdAPs), the repertoire of which quickly adapts to environmental conditions and responds to biotic and abiotic stresses. Although the important role of Pd in stress-induced reactions is universally recognized, the mechanisms of Pd control are still not fully understood. The negative role of callose in Pd permeability has been convincingly confirmed experimentally, yet the roles of cytoskeletal elements and many PdAPs remain unclear. Here, we discuss the contribution of each protein component to Pd control. Based on known data, we offer mechanistic models of mature leaf Pd regulation in response to stressful effects.
PubMed: 31842374
DOI: 10.3390/plants8120595 -
The Plant Cell Aug 2023Effective cellular signaling relies on precise spatial localization and dynamic interactions among proteins in specific subcellular compartments or niches, such as...
Effective cellular signaling relies on precise spatial localization and dynamic interactions among proteins in specific subcellular compartments or niches, such as cell-to-cell contact sites and junctions. In plants, endogenous and pathogenic proteins gained the ability to target plasmodesmata, membrane-lined cytoplasmic connections, through evolution to regulate or exploit cellular signaling across cell wall boundaries. For example, the receptor-like membrane protein PLASMODESMATA-LOCATED PROTEIN 5 (PDLP5), a potent regulator of plasmodesmal permeability, generates feed-forward or feed-back signals important for plant immunity and root development. However, the molecular features that determine the plasmodesmal association of PDLP5 or other proteins remain largely unknown, and no protein motifs have been identified as plasmodesmal targeting signals. Here, we developed an approach combining custom-built machine-learning algorithms and targeted mutagenesis to examine PDLP5 in Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana. We report that PDLP5 and its closely related proteins carry unconventional targeting signals consisting of short stretches of amino acids. PDLP5 contains 2 divergent, tandemly arranged signals, either of which is sufficient for localization and biological function in regulating viral movement through plasmodesmata. Notably, plasmodesmal targeting signals exhibit little sequence conservation but are located similarly proximal to the membrane. These features appear to be a common theme in plasmodesmal targeting.
Topics: Arabidopsis Proteins; Plasmodesmata; Arabidopsis; Membrane Proteins; Carrier Proteins
PubMed: 37225403
DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad152 -
Plant Science : An International... Oct 2018It is now widely accepted that plant RNAs can have effects at sites far away from their sites of synthesis. Cellular mRNA transcripts, endogenous small RNAs and... (Review)
Review
It is now widely accepted that plant RNAs can have effects at sites far away from their sites of synthesis. Cellular mRNA transcripts, endogenous small RNAs and defense-related small RNAs all move from cell to cell via plasmodesmata (PD), and may even move long distances in the phloem. Despite their small size, PD have complicated substructures, and the area of the pore available for RNA trafficking can be remarkably small. The intent of this review is to bring into focus the role of PD in cell-to-cell and long distance communication in plants. We consider how cellular RNAs could move through the cell to the PD and thence through PD. The protein composition of PD and the possible roles of PD proteins in RNA trafficking are also discussed. Recent evidence for RNA metabolism in organelles acting as a factor in controlling PD flux is also presented, highlighting new aspects of plant intra- and intercellular communication. It is clear that while the phenomenon of RNA mobility is common and essential, many questions remain, and these have been highlighted throughout this review.
Topics: Cell Communication; Plants; Plasmodesmata; RNA, Plant
PubMed: 30107876
DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.07.001 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2023Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a process that scientists have been trying to understand for many years because, on the one hand, it is a manifestation of the totipotency... (Review)
Review
Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a process that scientists have been trying to understand for many years because, on the one hand, it is a manifestation of the totipotency of plant cells, so it enables the study of the mechanisms regulating this process, and, on the other hand, it is an important method of plant propagation. Using SE in basic research and in practice is invaluable. This article describes the latest, but also historical, information on changes in the chemical composition of the cell wall during the transition of cells from the somatic to embryogenic state, and the importance of symplasmic communication during SE. Among wall chemical components, different pectic, AGP, extensin epitopes, and lipid transfer proteins have been discussed as potential apoplastic markers of explant cells during the acquisition of embryogenic competence. The role of symplasmic communication/isolation during SE has also been discussed, paying particular attention to the formation of symplasmic domains within and between cells that carry out different developmental processes. Information about the number and functionality of plasmodesmata (PD) and callose deposition as the main player in symplasmic isolation has also been presented.
PubMed: 37653868
DOI: 10.3390/plants12101951 -
Trends in Plant Science May 2016Plant receptor kinases (RKs) and receptor proteins (RPs) are involved in a plethora of cellular processes, including developmental decisions and immune responses. There... (Review)
Review
Plant receptor kinases (RKs) and receptor proteins (RPs) are involved in a plethora of cellular processes, including developmental decisions and immune responses. There is increasing evidence that plasmodesmata (PD)-localized RKs and RPs act as nexuses that perceive extracellular signals and convey them into intra- and intercellular responses by regulating the exchange of molecules through PD. How RK/RP complexes regulate the specific and nonspecific traffic of molecules through PD, and how these receptors are specifically targeted to PD, have been elusive but underpin comprehensive understanding of the function and regulation of the symplast. In this review we gather the current knowledge of RK/RP complex function at PD and how they might regulate intercellular traffic.
Topics: Plant Proteins; Plasmodesmata; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 26655263
DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2015.11.002