Plasmodesmata

Background: Plant cells are interconnected by cytoplasmic cell-to-cell bridges (plasmodesmata) that allow for the exchange of solutes. By its structure a plasmodesma offers a cytosolic and a desmotubular pathway. 

 

Plant viruses abuse plasmodesmata for their cell-to cell movement. They gate plasmodesmata by means of movement proteins (MP) that chaperone the viral nucleic acid, target to plasmodesmata and are fizzled through the cytoplasmic sleeve.

 

Research topic: The physiological control of non-pathogenic, endogenous intercellular transport via plasmodesmata is largely undetermined yet and a main subject of our research. 

 

Plasmodesmal pathways 
CC= central cavity, CW= cell wall, Dt= desmotubule, ML= middle lamella, MP= movement protein, s= solute below, S= solute above size exclusion limit (SEL), MR= plasmodesmal middle region, NR= plasmodesmal neck region, PM= plasma membrane