Cell plate

This process leads to a steady expansion of the phragmoplast and, concomitantly, to a continuous retargeting of Golgi-derived vesicles to the growing edge of the cell plate.

Once the cell plate reaches and fuses with the plasma membrane the phragmoplast disappears.

Our current understanding of various mechanisms involved in budding-off of Golgi vesicles, delivery and fusion of vesicles to initiate plant cell plate during cytokinesis and the synthesis of polysaccharides at the forming cell plate is very limited[1] (Figure 1).

[2] These gaps may be filled soon, as many genes that have been identified by mutations are analyzed and functions of their products are deciphered.

Double labeling experiments demonstrated that, unlike phragmoplast microtubules which are concentrated on the periphery of the forming plate, PDL is located across the whole width of the newly formed cell plate.

Phragmoplast and cell plate formation in a plant cell during cytokinesis. Left side: Phragmoplast forms and cell plate starts to assemble in the center of the cell. Towards the right: Phragmoplast enlarges in a donut-shape towards the outside of the cell, leaving behind mature cell plate in the center. The cell plate will transform into the new cell wall once cytokinesis is complete.
Confocal visualization of phragmoplasts by double labeling immunofluorescence microscopy.