写在前面

怎么说呢，这个系列就是把自己的homework拿出来晒一晒，也就是图一乐丢人现眼一下，因为本人能力和知识范围有限，难免会有错误，请谅解一下，也就是仅供参考。引文都有标注，如果有侵权的可以联系我。欢迎各位大佬多交流，提问题、指错误。要是能关注一波那就更好了！  

How do multicellular organisms exchange information and energy at the cellular level?

First, the limitations in the title include: multicellular organisms, cellular level.While the information communication between multicellular organisms cells is generally known as cell communication.

Cell communication: refers to the process in which the information sent from a signal producing cell is transmitted to another target cell through the medium (aka ligand) and interacts with its corresponding receptor, and then produces a series of physiological and biochemical changes in the target cell through the cell signal transduction, which ultimately appears as the overall biological effect of the target cell.Cell communication can be summarized into two types: direct communication and indirect communication between cell.[1]

1 Direct communication between the cells

1.2 Plasmodesmata 

Plasmodesmata are channels through which plant cytoplasmic information is communicated, which serve as cytoplasmic channels linking the protoplasm of a plant cell through the plant cell wall. As the connecting pathway of cellular symbiosomes, plasmodesmata provide communication pathways for intercellular signaling, molecular exchange, and play crucial roles in controlling plant development and coordination of plant physiological functions. [2]

 

   

1.1 Tunneling Nanotubes (TNTs）

TNTs are a long cell-distance physical connection similar to the intercellular filament, enabling long-range, directional communication between connected cells. TNTs are essentially a plasma membrane-coated actin and cytoplasmic circular tube. As a long-cell-to-cell connection pipeline, the direct transmission of proteins, nucleic acids, ions, small molecules and organelles can be performed, and TNTs can also directly conduct electrical signal transmission, and then in collaboration with the cell gap connection to cause electrical coupling between cells.[3]               

1.3 Gap junction

Gap junction are intercellular connections via connexons in animals.The so-called "gap" has two meanings. One is a gap of 2 to 3 n m between the gap junction, and the lipid layer is not directly connected, but by two connectors to form a channel, allowing the material of small molecules to flow directly from one cell to the other.[4] The gap junction, as a direct communication channel between adjacent cells, functions as conducting cell information and coordinating cell population function, and it is an important local coordination factor for cell growth, development, and various other functional activities.[5]

1.4 Cell-contact-dependent signaling

Cell contact-dependent signaling refers to direct cell contact without the release of signaling molecules that mediates cell communication through interaction between transmembrane signaling molecules (ligand) and the receptor on the plasmic membrane of adjacent target cells, including cell-cell adhesion, cell-matrix adhesion,etc.[1]

2 Indirect communication between the cells

2.1 Indirect communication based on chemical signals

Cells can act at long and short distances through chemical signals, and their mode of action can be divided as follows：paracrine、synaptic、endocrine、autocrine.[1]

  2.2 Indirect communication based on Exosomes

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles( 30 ～ 100 nm diameter) derived from the endosomal system in almost all kind of cells under physiological and pathological condition.Exosomes can fuse with recipient cells and release inclusions into recipient cells, playing an important role in cell-to cell communication by transporting intracellular proteins, RNAs, and lipids from one cell to another.[6]

              

   

3 Conclusion

Cell communication is the basis of the multicellular  organism, which integrates various cells  into a network.As the technology evolves, new types of cell communication may also be constantly discovered.At present, one of the question from  title  is answered, but the intercell energy exchange in the title cannot find relevant information due to insufficient personal ability.

References：

[1] 翟中和，王喜忠，丁明孝主编；丁明孝，王喜忠，苏都莫日根等编著．细胞生物学 第4版．北京：高等教育出版社，2011

[2] 刘宁.胞间联丝的结构、类型及其在植物发育中的作用(1)[J].生物学通报,2020,55(01):7-10.

[3] 孙艳丽,Aleksey Yakovlev,刘丝丝,赵虎成,冯西桥.隧道纳米管——一种新的细胞间连接[J].生物化学与生物物理进展,2021,48(11):1273-1281.DOI:10.16476/j.pibb.2020.0430.

[4]  http://www.a-hospital.com/w/%E9%97%B4%E9%9A%99%E8%BF%9E%E6%8E%A5

[5] 冯全义,吴泽志,蔡绍,李苹,陈秀丽,张秀真.间隙连接研究进展[J].四川生理科学杂志,2004(02):73-77.

[6] 赵濛,刘志红,李金泉.外泌体组成特征及其作为细胞通讯和分子标记的生物学作用[J].中国生物化学与分子生物学报,2016,32(06):612-619.DOI:10.13865/j.cnki.cjbmb.2016.06.03.

[7] 叶花,杨佳明,张家红,牛衍龙,王茂源.外泌体的生物学作用与失神经肌萎缩[J/OL].中国组织工程研究:1-7[2022-03-03].http://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/21.1581.R.20220225.1814.005.html.