Molecular principles of membrane microdomain targeting in plants

• Proteins and lipids segregate into distinct and coexisting membrane microdomains in vivo.
• New microscopy techniques will facilitate the visualization of membrane microdomains and protein dynamics in vivo.
• Protein targeting to specific sites in the PM is dynamic and a consequence of combinatorial events.
• The cell wall–PM–cytoskeleton continuum is a hallmark of membrane microdomain assembly in plants.

Plasma membranes (PMs) are heterogeneous lipid bilayers comprising diverse subdomains. These sites can be labeled by various proteins in vivo and may serve as hotspots for signal transduction. They are found at apical, basal, and lateral membranes of polarized cells, at cell equatorial planes, or almost isotropically distributed throughout the PM. Recent advances in imaging technologies and understanding of mechanisms that allow proteins to target specific sites in PMs have provided insights into the dynamics and complexity of their specific segregation. Here we present a comprehensive overview of the different types of membrane microdomain and describe the molecular modes that determine site-directed targeting of membrane-resident proteins at the PM.Video Abstract To view the video inline, enable JavaScript on your browser. However, you can download and view the video by clicking on the icon belowHelp with MP4 filesOptionsDownload video (52878 K)