title: Intercellular and systemic spread of RNA and RNAi in plants.
abstract: Plants possess dynamic networks of intercellular communication that are crucial for plant development and physiology. In plants, intercellular communication involves a combination of ligand-receptor-based apoplasmic signaling, and plasmodesmata and phloem-mediated symplasmic signaling. The intercellular trafficking of macromolecules, including RNAs and proteins, has emerged as a novel mechanism of intercellular communication in plants. Various forms of regulatory RNAs move over distinct cellular boundaries through plasmodesmata and phloem. This plant-specific, non-cell-autonomous RNA trafficking network is also involved in development, nutrient homeostasis, gene silencing, pathogen defense, and many other physiological processes. However, the mechanism underlying macromolecular trafficking in plants remains poorly understood. Current progress made in RNA trafficking research and its biological relevance to plant development will be summarized. Diverse plant regulatory mechanisms of cell-to-cell and systemic long-distance transport of RNAs, including mRNAs, viral RNAs, and small RNAs, will also be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Life Science (BK21-WCU Program), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nazim Uddin
authors.forename: Jae-Yean
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D002450:Cell Communication; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D020868:Gene Silencing; D063245:Plant Development; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D012313:RNA