Osmosis through plasmodesmata?

Question

When plasmolysis occurs, is the water from inside the cell able to escape through the plasmodesmata via the extracellular matrix and plasma membranes?

Answer 1

Plasmodesmata are only strands of cytoplasm that pass through the openings of cell walls and connects the protoplasts to other adjacent cells. If plasmolysis occurs, the tonicity of the enviroment has overwhelmed the cell and has caused it to lyse. Therefore, during plasmolysis, the plasmodesmata would have little if any role in this process.

Answer 2

Plasmodemata are quite similar to gap junctions and allow passage of molecules with a molecular weight less than 800 but they can also be regulated not to allow passage of some molecules. Thus it is not as simple as a semi-permeable membrane.
When the junction is open, there will be free movement of water and other small molecules between the cells. So osmolalilty should be the same for all connected cells.
If you have eg two connected cells and expose only one of them to osmotic shock, I don't know if the plasmodemata would close to protect the "safe" one or if they would be a death-trap for it.
I would guess that probably the first scenario is more probable, since otherwise dipping the edge of a leaf in salty or distilled water would kill almost the whole plant.

Answer 3

Daniel:

One of the reason I venture into Yahoo!Answers is to learn new words and terms. I Had NO IDEA what your question was but because you asked it I researched the term to get a better idea and to increase my knowledge.

Thanks for making me a little smarter.

Oh, and I have no idea what the answer is to your query.

And I am NOT being a smart @$$.

TFTP