title: Cell wall carbohydrates as signals in plants.
abstract: Plant and fungal cells are surrounded by a cell wall rich in diverse polysaccharides and proteins. It has become apparent in recent years that the carbohydrates in the cell wall function not only to maintain cell shape and integrity, but also may serve as signals in plants. This review summarizes the evidence that biologically-active oligosaccharides (oligosaccharins) released from plant or microbial cell walls can serve as signals to regulate plant defense and plant growth and development. The oligosaccharins discussed include the fungal-derived hepta-beta-glucoside and the plant cell wall-derived oligogalacturonides and xyloglucans. Possible mechanisms by which oligosaccharins may exert their effects on plant cells are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens 30602-4712.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mohnen
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000502:physiology*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000502:physiology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000502:physiology; D005936:Glucans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014990:Xylans
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D005936:Glucans; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014990:Xylans; C029353:xyloglucan