Intercellular Movement of Plant Transcription Factors

Abstract: Plant tissues and organs consist of multiple cells. Intercellular communication is essential in determining and enforcing developmental fates in all multicellular organisms. A growing body of evidence indicates that plant transcription factors can move between cells， suggesting that the intercellular communication mediated by transcription factor movement play an important role in controlling plant developmental events. The present article focuses on the discovery， mechanism and channel of the intercellular transcription factor movement. There are at least two modes of transcription factor movement between cells through plasmodesmata， involving either non-targeted translocation by diffusion or target-regulated transport. The intercellular movement of transcription factors is position-dependent and regulated in a tissue-specific manner. Other factors affecting the intercellular movement include the sequence and structure of the protein as well as auxiliary molecules. The recent achievements and challenges in examining the intercellular movement of transcription factors and its functions are also described and discussed in this review.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2007.01.0012