Importance of symplasmic communication in cell differentiation

Abstract

Symplasmic communication via plasmodesmata (PD) is part of the system of information exchange between plant cells. Molecules that pass through the PD include ions, some hormones, minerals, amino acids, and sugars but also proteins, transcription factors, and different classes of RNA, and as such PD can participate in the coordination of plant growth and development. This review summarizes the current literature on this subject and the role of PD in signal exchange, the importance of symplasmic communication and symplasmic domains in plant cell differentiation, and highlights the future prospective in the exploration of PD functions in plants. Moreover, this review also describes the potential use of barley root epidermis and non-zygotic embryogenesis in study of symplasmic communication during cell differentiation.

Root Hair Development in the Grasses: What We Already Know and What We Still Need to Know

“…between neighboring cells during plant cell differentiation (Marzec and Kurczynska, 2014). In wild-type barley, symplasmic communication is limited to the root zone in which cells start to develop, whereas in the root-hairless mutant rhl1.b, all epidermal cells, even those in the mature zone of the root, remain interconnected; the absence of callose deposits in the plasmodesmata has been suggested as the basis for this difference (Marzec et al, 2014b).…”

“…The indications are that any enhancement in RH function may offer a potential route to improving the productivity and stress tolerance of crops that are grown in poor soils (Meister et al, 2014). Last, but not least, the root epidermis of grass species represents a useful model for cell differentiation (Marzec and Kurczynska, 2014).…”

Explant type and stress treatment determine the uni- and multicellular origin of somatic embryos in the tree fern Cyathea delgadii Sternb.

“…The SE efficiency of internode explants was significantly improved by short-term treatment (up to 1 h) with sucrose. There is evidence in the literature to support the hypothesis that osmotic treatment may enhance somatic embryo production in two ways: it may cause selection of certain cell types, as shown for osmotically dehydrated embryogenic tissue of Gentiana cruciata, G. kurroo (Mikuła et al 2011a, b) and Pinus sylvestris (Häggman et al 1998), or alternatively, severe but non-fatal stress treatment may lead to the symplasmic isolation of cells (Marzec and Kurczynska 2014). It was demonstrated that disruption of plasmodesmata between explant cells promotes the somatic-toembryogenic transition (Verdeil et al 2001;You et al 2006).…”

The evolutionary context of root epidermis cell patterning in grasses (Poaceae)

“…The shorter cells contained a denser cytoplasm, a greater number of mitochondria and only this type of cells produced root hair tubes 15 . Differentiation of both cell types is correlated with the restriction of symplasmic communication between neighboring cells 19 , 26 …”