Journal
CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY
Volume 14, Issue 6, Pages 683-690Publisher
CURRENT BIOLOGY LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2011.07.007
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- UK Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council
- John Innes Foundation
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Plasmodesmata are doors in the rigid cell wall. In multicellular tissues, they allow the passage of molecules needed to create physiological gradients and, by closure, symplastic boundaries, which are necessary for the fundamental processes of plant growth, development and defence. Despite this central role in plant growth our knowledge of their contribution has been hindered by difficulties in biochemical and molecular characterisation. Recent advances in proteomic, biochemical, cell biological and genetic analysis of their structure and function is showing that plasmodesmata are plastic yet highly regulated structures. They require the perception of small molecule signals (such as reactive oxygen species) to activate local changes in the cell wall that place physical constraints on the channel. This article reviews recent evidence that highlights the roles of the membrane subcomponents both as structural elements and as environments for resident signalling molecules.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available