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  4. A Developmental Switch Controls Cell-to-cell Transport in Roots Via Pectin-linked Plasmodesmata Changes
 
research article

A Developmental Switch Controls Cell-to-cell Transport in Roots Via Pectin-linked Plasmodesmata Changes

Jacquier, Lea
•
Fiorenza, Celeste Aurora
•
Robe, Kevin
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August 4, 2025
Molecular Plant

Cell-to-cell communication is fundamental to multicellular life. In plants, plasmodesmata-cytoplasmic channels that connect adjacent cells-enable the transport of molecules between cells. In roots, such transport is thought to play a central role in nutrient acquisition and delivery across the multiple cell layers. In this study, we demonstrate that plasmodesmatal transport persists in fully differentiated Arabidopsis roots, even after the establishment of apoplastic barriers such as Casparian strips and suberin lamellae in the endodermis. This persistence highlights plasmodesmata as a critical pathway for intercellular transport in mature roots. We also identify a developmental switch in plasmodesmatal function: while transport is bidirectional in young roots, it becomes unidirectional toward the vasculature in differentiated roots. Through a genetic screen, we identified mutants with impaired directionality that maintain persistent bidirectional transport. These mutants show enlarged plasmodesmatal apertures due to defects in pectin composition and cell wall organization, highlighting the critical role of pectin in plasmodesmatal formation and function. Our findings reveal that plasmodesmata-mediated transport is dynamically regulated during root development and provide new insights into the cellular mechanisms underlying intercellular communication in plants.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.1016/j.molp.2025.07.004
Web of Science ID

WOS:001551962800013

PubMed ID

40682275

Author(s)
Jacquier, Lea

University of Geneva

Fiorenza, Celeste Aurora

University of Geneva

Robe, Kevin

University of Geneva

Han, Jian-Pu

University of Geneva

Schmitt, Alexandra

University of Lausanne

Cleard, Fabienne

University of Geneva

Fuchs, Christelle

University of Geneva

Ramakrishna, Priya  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Loubery, Sylvain

University of Geneva

Kalmbach, Lothar

University of Neuchatel

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Date Issued

2025-08-04

Publisher

CELL PRESS

Published in
Molecular Plant
Volume

18

Issue

8

Start page

1310

End page

1329

Subjects

plasmodesmata

•

root

•

endodermis

•

transport

•

rhamnose

•

pectin

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
PAL  
FunderFunding(s)Grant NumberGrant URL

Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)

31003A_179159

State of Geneva

Available on Infoscience
August 25, 2025
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/253394
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