The Interplay between Enucleated Sieve Elements and Companion Cells

In order to adapt to sessile life and terrestrial environments, vascular plants have developed highly sophisticated cells to transport photosynthetic products and developmental signals. Of these, two distinct cell types (i.e., the sieve element (SE) and companion cell) are arranged in precise positi...

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Main Author: Angel J. Matilla
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-08-01
Series:Plants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/17/3033
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author Angel J. Matilla
author_facet Angel J. Matilla
author_sort Angel J. Matilla
collection DOAJ
description In order to adapt to sessile life and terrestrial environments, vascular plants have developed highly sophisticated cells to transport photosynthetic products and developmental signals. Of these, two distinct cell types (i.e., the sieve element (SE) and companion cell) are arranged in precise positions, thus ensuring effective transport. During SE differentiation, most of the cellular components are heavily modified or even eliminated. This peculiar differentiation implies the selective disintegration of the nucleus (i.e., enucleation) and the loss of cellular translational capacity. However, some cellular components necessary for transport (e.g., plasmalemma) are retained and specific phloem proteins (P-proteins) appear. Likewise, MYB (i.e., <i>APL</i>) and NAC (i.e., <i>NAC45</i> and <i>NAC86</i>) transcription factors (TFs) and OCTOPUS proteins play a notable role in SE differentiation. The maturing SEs become heavily dependent on neighboring non-conducting companion cells, to which they are connected by plasmodesmata through which only 20–70 kDa compounds seem to be able to pass. The study of sieve tube proteins still has many gaps. However, the development of a protocol to isolate proteins that are free from any contaminating proteins has constituted an important advance. This review considers the very detailed current state of knowledge of both bound and soluble sap proteins, as well as the role played by the companion cells in their presence. Phloem proteins travel long distances by combining two modes: non-selective transport via bulk flow and selective regulated movement. One of the goals of this study is to discover how the protein content of the sieve tube is controlled. The majority of questions and approaches about the heterogeneity of phloem sap will be clarified once the morphology and physiology of the plasmodesmata have been investigated in depth. Finally, the retention of specific proteins inside an SE is an aspect that should not be forgotten.
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spelling doaj.art-225bc20f9c874afdb3923ce5b4e662ea2023-11-19T08:40:21ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-08-011217303310.3390/plants12173033The Interplay between Enucleated Sieve Elements and Companion CellsAngel J. Matilla0Departamento de Biología Funcional, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 14971-Santiago de Compostela, SpainIn order to adapt to sessile life and terrestrial environments, vascular plants have developed highly sophisticated cells to transport photosynthetic products and developmental signals. Of these, two distinct cell types (i.e., the sieve element (SE) and companion cell) are arranged in precise positions, thus ensuring effective transport. During SE differentiation, most of the cellular components are heavily modified or even eliminated. This peculiar differentiation implies the selective disintegration of the nucleus (i.e., enucleation) and the loss of cellular translational capacity. However, some cellular components necessary for transport (e.g., plasmalemma) are retained and specific phloem proteins (P-proteins) appear. Likewise, MYB (i.e., <i>APL</i>) and NAC (i.e., <i>NAC45</i> and <i>NAC86</i>) transcription factors (TFs) and OCTOPUS proteins play a notable role in SE differentiation. The maturing SEs become heavily dependent on neighboring non-conducting companion cells, to which they are connected by plasmodesmata through which only 20–70 kDa compounds seem to be able to pass. The study of sieve tube proteins still has many gaps. However, the development of a protocol to isolate proteins that are free from any contaminating proteins has constituted an important advance. This review considers the very detailed current state of knowledge of both bound and soluble sap proteins, as well as the role played by the companion cells in their presence. Phloem proteins travel long distances by combining two modes: non-selective transport via bulk flow and selective regulated movement. One of the goals of this study is to discover how the protein content of the sieve tube is controlled. The majority of questions and approaches about the heterogeneity of phloem sap will be clarified once the morphology and physiology of the plasmodesmata have been investigated in depth. Finally, the retention of specific proteins inside an SE is an aspect that should not be forgotten.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/17/3033sieve elementsapenucleationcompanion cellendoplasmic reticulumtranscription factors
spellingShingle Angel J. Matilla
The Interplay between Enucleated Sieve Elements and Companion Cells
Plants
sieve element
sap
enucleation
companion cell
endoplasmic reticulum
transcription factors
title The Interplay between Enucleated Sieve Elements and Companion Cells
title_full The Interplay between Enucleated Sieve Elements and Companion Cells
title_fullStr The Interplay between Enucleated Sieve Elements and Companion Cells
title_full_unstemmed The Interplay between Enucleated Sieve Elements and Companion Cells
title_short The Interplay between Enucleated Sieve Elements and Companion Cells
title_sort interplay between enucleated sieve elements and companion cells
topic sieve element
sap
enucleation
companion cell
endoplasmic reticulum
transcription factors
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/17/3033
work_keys_str_mv AT angeljmatilla theinterplaybetweenenucleatedsieveelementsandcompanioncells
AT angeljmatilla interplaybetweenenucleatedsieveelementsandcompanioncells