Exploring the Role of Cell Wall-Related Genes and Polysaccharides during Plant Development

Abstract

The majority of organs in plants are not established until after germination, when pluripotent stem cells in the growing apices give rise to daughter cells that proliferate and subsequently differentiate into new tissues and organ primordia. This remarkable capacity is not only restricted to the meristem, since maturing cells in many organs can also rapidly alter their identity depending on the cues they receive. One general feature of plant cell differentiation is a change in cell wall composition at the cell surface. Historically, this has been viewed as a downstream response to primary cues controlling differentiation, but a closer inspection of the wall suggests that it may play a much more active role. Specific polymers within the wall can act as substrates for modifications that impact receptor binding, signal mobility, and cell flexibility. Therefore, far from being a static barrier, the cell wall and its constituent polysaccharides can dictate signal transmission and perception, and directly contribute to a cell’s capacity to differentiate. In this review, we re-visit the role of plant cell wall-related genes and polysaccharides during various stages of development, with a particular focus on how changes in cell wall machinery accompany the exit of cells from the stem cell niche.

Pectin Methylesterases: Cell Wall Remodeling Proteins Are Required for Plant Response to Heat Stress

“…Much remains to be elucidated as to how the cell wall senses and transduces the signals leading to stress-induced transcriptional machinery changes and the underlying cell-wall polysaccharide deposition and modification. The role of cell wall-related genes, such as WAKs, which directly bind pectin polymers and partially depend upon the DM of pectin, and polysaccharides, has been explored during various stages of plant development ( Kohorn et al, 2009 ; Tucker et al, 2018 ). The qualitative and quantitative assessment of cell wall composition at the single cell level is also required ( Tucker et al, 2018 ).…”

An Arabidopsis berberine bridge enzyme‐like protein specifically oxidizes cellulose oligomers and plays a role in immunity

“…These cell wall fragments therefore behave as damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) (Boutrot and Zipfel, ; Gust et al ., ). In addition, endogenous plant‐derived CWDEs, which participate in the dynamics and remodeling of the cell wall during growth and development or are induced during mechanical rupture of the cell wall (Tucker et al ., ), may potentially release cell wall fragments with regulatory and elicitor activity. These may be perceived as signals in the context of a cell wall integrity sensing system devoted to monitoring cell wall status and the correct coordination of biochemical and mechanical cues (Savatin et al ., ; Wolf, ; De Lorenzo et al ., ,b; Engelsdorf et al ., ; Franck et al ., ).…”

Cell wall traits that influence plant development, immunity, and bioconversion

“…The local complexity and diversity of the CW determines the cell size and shape and, ultimately, the remarkably rich plant morphology. A comprehensive review has been recently published on this topic (Tucker et al ., ).…”

“…The growth of pollen tubes and root hairs is particularly amenable to study CW dynamics and the complex interplay between synthesis and re‐modeling of the CW polysaccharides (Mravec et al ., 2017a; Cameron and Geitmann, ; Tucker et al ., ). Control of pectin synthesis, de‐methylesterification and assembly is essential to prevent bursting of the growing cells caused by a turgor pressure not properly balanced by the CW tensile strength, with consequent perturbation of the cell wall integrity (CWI).…”