title: (Questions)n on phloem biology. 2. Mass flow, molecular hopping, distribution patterns and macromolecular signalling.
abstract: This review speculates on correlations between mass flow in sieve tubes and the distribution of photoassimilates and macromolecular signals. Since micro- (low-molecular compounds) and macromolecules are withdrawn from, and released into, the sieve-tube sap at various rates, distribution patterns of these compounds do not strictly obey mass-flow predictions. Due to serial release and retrieval transport steps executed by sieve tube plasma membranes, micromolecules are proposed to "hop" between sieve element/companion cell complexes and phloem parenchyma cells under source-limiting conditions (apoplasmic hopping). Under sink-limiting conditions, micromolecules escape from sieve tubes via pore-plasmodesma units and are temporarily stored. It is speculated that macromolecules "hop" between sieve elements and companion cells using plasmodesmal trafficking mechanisms (symplasmic hopping). We explore how differential tagging may influence distribution patterns of macromolecules and how their bidirectional movement could arise. Effects of exudation techniques on the macromolecular composition of sieve-tube sap are discussed.
authors: Plant Cell Biology Research Group, Institute of General Botany, Justus Liebig University, Senckenbergstrasse 17, Giessen, Germany. Aart.v.Bel@bot1.bio.uni-giessen.de
authors: Aart J E
authors: AJ
authors: van Bel
authors: Alexandra C U
authors: AC
authors: Furch
authors: Jens B
authors: JB
authors: Hafke
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Knoblauch
authors: John W
authors: JW
authors: Patrick
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D019662:Cucurbitaceae / Q000378:metabolism; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D052585:Phloem / Q000378:metabolism*; D053147:Plant Exudates / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D053147:Plant Exudates