Abstract

A wide range of proteins and RNA molecules in plants have been recently identified as non-cell autonomous, phloem-mobile molecules and suggested to play important roles in physiological and developmental processes. Systemic movement of both protein-coding mRNAs and non-coding small RNAs is shown to correlate with the epigenetic changes brought about across grafting junctions, supporting their potential roles as long-distance signaling molecules. Plants appear to have evolved this unique RNA-based signaling mechanism to control systemic regulation of various responses to environmental stimuli and challenges such as photoperiods, nutrient availabilities, and pathogen attacks. This mechanism may have been exploited by viroids, non-coding RNA pathogens, to spread infection cell to cell and through phloem. A model describing potential molecular mechanisms by which the systemic RNA trafficking occurs will be presented.