Abscisic acid signaling regulates primary plasmodesmata density for plant cell-to-cell communication

Sci Adv. 2025 May 9;11(19):eadr8298. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adr8298. Epub 2025 May 7.

Abstract

Cell-to-cell communication is essential for multicellular organisms. Plasmodesmata (PD) are plant-specific nanopore structures pivotal for cell-to-cell communication and plant survival. However, how PD form and their structure, regulation, and evolution remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the exogenous supply of abscisic acid (ABA), a well-conserved phytohormone in land plants, reduces primary PD density in the moss Physcomitrium patens. This regulation requires all core components of the ABA signaling pathway. Furthermore, we reveal that ABA-INSENSITIVE 5, a well-conserved transcription factor in the ABA signaling pathway of land plants, plays a pivotal role in PD density regulation, whereas ABA-INSENSITIVE 3 does not. Our findings show that the ABA-induced reduction in primary PD density is mediated by these ABA-responsive factors in P. patens. Considering previous reports on ABA-dependent PD regulation in both moss and angiosperms, we propose that the ABA-mediated control of PD biogenesis and permeability represents a conserved mechanism in land plants, with critical implications for cell-to-cell communication and stress adaptation.

MeSH terms

  • Abscisic Acid* / metabolism
  • Abscisic Acid* / pharmacology
  • Bryopsida* / genetics
  • Bryopsida* / metabolism
  • Cell Communication*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Plant Cells* / metabolism
  • Plant Growth Regulators / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Plasmodesmata* / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • Abscisic Acid
  • Plant Proteins
  • Plant Growth Regulators