My body is a cage: mechanisms and modulation of plant cell growth

Abstract

388I.388II.389III.389IV.390V.391VI.393VII.394VIII.398399References399 Summary The wall surrounding plant cells provides protection from abiotic and biotic stresses, and support through the action of turgor pressure. However, the presence of this strong elastic wall also prevents cell movement and resists cell growth. This growth can be likened to extending a house from the inside, using extremely high pressures to push out the walls. Plants must increase cell volume in order to explore their environment, acquire nutrients and reproduce. Cell wall material must stretch and flow in a controlled manner and, concomitantly, new cell wall material must be deposited at the correct rate and site to prevent wall and cell rupture. In this review, we examine biomechanics, cell wall structure and growth regulatory networks to provide a ‘big picture’ of plant cell growth.

Interplay between Ions, the Cytoskeleton, and Cell Wall Properties during Tip Growth

“…However, at the tube tip, a PMEinduced stiffening would be contrary to the local weakening of the wall. An explanation for this paradox may come from work in nonpollen tube systems, where PME may weaken the existing cell wall (Peaucelle et al, 2011(Peaucelle et al, , 2012(Peaucelle et al, , 2015Braidwood et al, 2014). The proposed model suggests that PME demethoxylates pectin, rendering the wall components more accessible to degrading enzymes, which, in turn, weakens the wall.…”

Effective diffusion rates and cross-correlation analysis of “acid growth” data

“…Excellent overviews have been given by Kutschera (2001), Fry (2004), Cosgrove (2005), Boyer (2009) and quite recently by Lintilhac (2014) and Braidwood et al (2014). However, the steps in wall assembly and the specific chemistry that controls the rates of enlargement are still lacking an analytical background.…”

Coordinated Functional Divergence of Genes after Genome Duplication in Arabidopsis thaliana

“…The opposite expression patterns we observed for the 92 homoeologous gene pairs for growth-related genes versus defense-related genes could be explained by the antagonistic requirements for growth and stress on the plant cell wall. For instance, growth requires controlled loosening of the cell wall (Cosgrove, 2005;Braidwood et al, 2014), whereas in case of herbivore or pathogen attack, further loosening of the cell wall (as caused by pathogen enzymes) will be halted as to prevent further damage (Hématy et al, 2007).…”