Spotlight on plant RNA-containing extracellular vesicles

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) carrying RNA have attracted growing attention in plant cell biology. For a long time, EV release or uptake through the rigid plant cell wall was considered to be impossible and RNA outside cells to be unstable. Identified EV biomarkers have brought new insights into functional roles of EVs to transport their RNA cargo for systemic spread in plants and into plant-invading pathogens. RNA-binding proteins supposedly take over key functions in EV-mediated RNA secretion and transport, but the mechanisms of RNA sorting and EV translocation through the plant cell wall and plasma membrane are not understood. Characterizing the molecular players and the cellular mechanisms of plant RNA-containing EVs will create new knowledge in cell-tocell and inter-organismal communication.

Automated summary

Extracellular vesicles carrying RNA in plant cell biology have gained increasing attention. It was previously believed that EV release or uptake through the rigid plant cell wall was impossible, and RNA outside cells was unstable. However, the identification of EV biomarkers has provided new insights into the functional roles of EVs in transporting their RNA cargo for systemic spread in plants and for invading pathogens. Although RNA-binding proteins are thought to play key roles in EV-mediated RNA secretion and transport, the mechanisms of RNA sorting and EV translocation through the plant cell wall and plasma membrane are still not well understood. Characterizing the molecular players and cellular mechanisms of plant RNA-containing EVs will contribute to our understanding of cell-to-cell and inter-organismal communication.