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Plasmodesmata

Plasmodesmata are microscopic channels that traverse the cell walls of plant cells and some algal cells, enabling transport and communication between cells. They have three main structures - a plasma membrane that is continuous with the cell membrane, a cytoplasmic sleeve that allows molecules and ions to pass through, and a desmotubule which is a tube of endoplasmic reticulum. Plasmodesmata can transport proteins, RNA, viral genomes, and other molecules between cells by diffusion or possibly through interactions with transport proteins.

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81 views

Plasmodesmata

Plasmodesmata are microscopic channels that traverse the cell walls of plant cells and some algal cells, enabling transport and communication between cells. They have three main structures - a plasma membrane that is continuous with the cell membrane, a cytoplasmic sleeve that allows molecules and ions to pass through, and a desmotubule which is a tube of endoplasmic reticulum. Plasmodesmata can transport proteins, RNA, viral genomes, and other molecules between cells by diffusion or possibly through interactions with transport proteins.

Uploaded by

Tan ShunYao
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Plasmodesmata

Plasmodesmata (singular: plasmodesma) are microscopic channels which traverse the cell


walls of plant cells[2][3] and some algal cells, enabling transport and communication between them.
Species that have plasmodesmata include members of
the Charophyceae, Charales andColeochaetales (which are all algae), as well as all embryophytes,
better known as land plants.[4] Unlike animal cells, every plant cell is surrounded by
a polysaccharide cell wall. Neighbouring plant cells are therefore separated by a pair of cell walls and
the intervening lamella, forming an extracellular domain known as the apoplast. Although cell walls
are permeable to small soluble proteins and other solutes, plasmodesmata enable direct,
regulated, symplastic intercellular transport of substances between cells. There are two forms of
plasmodesmata: primary ones are formed during cell division and secondary ones can form between
mature cells.[5]

Similar structures, called gap junctions[6] and membrane nanotubes, interconnect animal


cells[7] and stromules form between plastids in plant cells.[8]

Contents
 [hide]

1 Formation

2 Structure

o 2.1 Plasmodesmatal plasma

membrane

o 2.2 Cytoplasmic sleeve

o 2.3 Desmotubule

3 Transport

4 See also

5 References

[edit]Formation

Plasmodesmata are formed when portion of the endoplasmic reticulum are trapped across the middle
lamella as new cell wall is laid down between two newly divided plant cells and these eventually
become the cytoplasmic connections between cells (primary plasmodesmata). Here the wall is not
thickened further, and depressions or thin areas known as pits are formed in the walls. Pits normally
pair up between adjacent cells. Alternatively, plasmodesmata can be inserted into existing cell walls
between non-dividing cells (secondary plasmodesmata)[9]

[edit]Structure

[edit]Plasmodesmatal plasma membrane


A typical plant cell may have between 103 and 105 plasmodesmata connecting it with adjacent
cells[10] equating to between 1 and 10 per µm2.[11] Plasmodesmata are approximately 50-60 nm in
diameter at the mid-point and are constructed of three main layers, the plasma membrane,
the cytoplasmic sleeve, and the desmotubule.[10] They can transverse cell walls that are up to 90 nm
thick.[11]

The plasma membrane portion of the plasmodesma is a continuous extension of the cell membrane
or plasmalemma [12] It is similar in structure to the cellular phospholipid bilayers.

[edit]Cytoplasmic sleeve
The cytoplasmic sleeve is a fluid-filled space enclosed by the plasmalemma and a continuous
extension of the cytosol. Trafficking of moleculesand ions through plasmodesmata occurs through this
passage. Smaller molecules (e.g. sugars and amino acids) and ions can easily pass through
plasmodesmata by diffusion without the need for additional chemical energy. Proteins can also pass
through the cytoplasmic sleeve (for example Green fluorescent protein).[13] It is not yet known how the
selective transport of larger molecules, such as proteins, occurs. Onehypothesis is that
the polysaccharide callose accumulates around the neck region of plasmodesmata to form a collar,
reducing their diameter and thereby controlling permeability to substances in the cytoplasm.[12]

[edit]Desmotubule

The desmotubule is a tube of appressed endoplasmic reticulum that runs between two adjacent
cells [14] Some molecules are known to be transported through this channel,[15] but it is not thought to
be the main route for plasmodesmatal transport.

Around the desmotubule and the plasma membrane areas of an electron dense material have been
seen, often joined together by spoke-like structures that seem to split the plasmodesma into smaller
channels [14] These structures may be composed of myosin[16][17][18] and actin,[17][19] which are part of the
cell's cytoskeleton. If this is the case these proteins could be used in the selective transport of large
molecules between the two cells.

[edit]Transport

Tobacco mosaic virus movement protein 30 localizes to plasmodesmata.


Plasmodesmata have been shown to transport proteins (including transcription factors), short
interfering RNA, messenger RNA and viral genomes from cell to cell. One example of a
viral movement proteins is the tobacco mosaic virus MP-30. MP-30 is thought to bind to the virus's
own genome and shuttle it from infected cells to uninfected cells through plasmodesmata.
[13]
 Flowering Locus T protein moves from leaves to the shoot apical meristem through
plasmodesmata to initiate flowering[citation needed].

The size of molecules that can pass through plasmodesmata is determined by the size exclusion limit.
This limit is highly variable and can is subject to active modification.[5] MP-30 is able to increase the
size exclusion limit from 700 Daltons to 9400 Daltons thereby aiding its movement through a plant.[20]

Several models for possible active transport through plasmodesmata exist. It has been suggested that
such transport is mediated by interactions with proteins localized on the desmotubule, and/or
by chaperones partially unfolding proteins, allowing them to fit through the narrow passage. A similar
mechanism may be involved in transporting viral nucleic acids through the plasmodesmata.[21]

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