Translocation and Delivery of Macromolecules across the Plant Plasma Membrane

The plasma membrane regulates entry of atoms and molecules into plant cells. The amphipathic nature of the plasma membrane, consisting of a thick inner hydrophobic layer and thin outer hydrophilic layers, makes it difficult to traverse.

Nucleic acids, small proteins, or complexes of the two, are introduced in applications such as phenotypic modifications, bio-sensing, or gene editing with CRISPR. Currently, cell-penetrating peptides and nanomaterials are used to facilitate the introduction of desired macromolecules into the cell. In order to successfully modify plants, existing mechanisms of introduction of desired macromolecules into plant cells should be improved and novel mechanisms identified. All these modifications have the potential of improving agricultural production in the conditions of changing climate. Therefore, the use of nanomaterials and cell-penetrating peptides as carriers of nucleic acids, polypeptides, and complexes of nucleic acids and polypeptides will certainly play an important role in modification of plants in the future.

This Research Topic aims to cover new developments in efforts leading to facilitation of nucleic acids, polypeptides, and complexes of nucleic acids and polypeptides into plant cells across plasma membranes without the use of pathogens. We welcome manuscripts dealing with:

• Use of cell-penetrating peptides in introduction of nucleic acids, polypeptides/aptamers, complexes of nucleic acids and polypeptides into the plant cells.
• Use of nanomaterials in introduction of nucleic acids, polypeptides/aptamers, complexes of nucleic acids and polypeptides into the plant cells.
• Use of any new technology to move macromolecules across plasma membranes into the plant cells and technologies to remove these materials from the plant cells.