Topological analysis of multicellular complexity in the plant hypocotyl.

ABSTRACT: Multicellularity arose as a result of adaptive advantages conferred to complex cellular assemblies. The arrangement of cells within organs endows higher-order functionality through a structure-function relationship, though the organizational properties of these multicellular configurations remain poorly understood. We investigated the topological properties of complex organ architecture by digitally capturing global cellular interactions in the plant embryonic stem (hypocotyl), and analyzing these using quantitative network analysis. This revealed the presence of coherent conduits of reduced path length across epidermal atrichoblast cell files. The preferential movement of small molecules along this cell type was demonstrated using fluorescence transport assays. Both robustness and plastic

SUBMITTER: Jackson MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5499946 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature