Plasmodesmata-Mediated Intercellular Communication in Plants

Plasmodesmata are membrane-lined channels that traverse the cell walls of adjacent plant cells, establishing a continuous cytoplasmic and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) network. These structures enable the movement of ions, metabolites, hormones, proteins and nucleic acids, thereby coordinating development, defence responses and stress adaptation across tissues. Conductivity through plasmodesmata is dynamically regulated by the reversible deposition of the β-1,3-glucan callose at the neck region, which alters pore aperture and size exclusion limit. A diverse set of plasmodesmata-located proteins (PDLPs), callose synthases and β-1,3-glucanases interact to fine-tune callose homeostasis in response to developmental cues and environmental signals. In addition to passive diffusion, active transport mechanisms involve selective gating of macromolecules, including transcription factors and small RNAs, to effect non-cell-autonomous signalling. Plasmodesmatal permeability is also modulated during pathogen attack, where rapid callose accumulation restricts viral and bacterial spread. Recent advances have revealed how specific protein complexes at plasmodesmata integrate nutrient allocation, hormonal gradients and immune signalling, and have begun to unravel the molecular basis of selective gating and long-distance communication. Elucidating these regulatory networks holds promise for engineering improved stress resilience and optimised resource distribution in crop species.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have revealed that the intercellular movement of small RNAs such as microRNAs is governed by a polarised gating mechanism at defined cell–cell interfaces. This gate-keeper system generates directional flux between neighbouring cells, restricts long-distance shoot-to-root trafficking and underpins domain-autonomous behaviours within stem cell niches. Importantly, this form of gating operates independently of protein mobility pathways, identifying small RNAs as the mobile signalling unit. The precision of this mechanism safeguards functional domains during dynamic patterning events and mitigates ‘signalling gridlock’ when multiple developmental cues converge in close proximity.

Plasmodesmata-Mediated Intercellular Communication in Plants publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in plasmodesmata-mediated intercellular communication in plants across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Plasmodesmata: Membrane-lined channels linking the cytoplasm and ER of adjacent plant cells, enabling symplastic transport of molecules.

Callose: A β-1,3-glucan polymer deposited at plasmodesmatal necks to regulate pore aperture and cell-to-cell conductivity.

Symplastic transport: Movement of solutes and macromolecules through the interconnected cytosolic continuum of plant cells.

Size exclusion limit (SEL): The maximum molecular size that can passively diffuse through a plasmodesmal pore.

Plasmodesmata-located proteins (PDLPs): A family of membrane proteins that modulate plasmodesmal function and callose homeostasis.

Gating: The active regulation of plasmodesmal selectivity and permeability for specific macromolecules.

References

1. Arabidopsis PDLP7 modulated plasmodesmata function is related to BG10-dependent glucosidase activity required for callose degradation. Science Bulletin (2024).
2. PLASMODESMATA-LOCATED PROTEIN 6 regulates plasmodesmal function in Arabidopsis vasculature. The Plant Cell (2024).
3. Callose homeostasis at plasmodesmata: molecular regulators and developmental relevance. Frontiers in Plant Science (2014).
4. Gating of miRNA movement at defined cell-cell interfaces governs their impact as positional signals. Nature Communications (2018).