title: Growth of the plant cell wall.
abstract: Plant cells encase themselves within a complex polysaccharide wall, which constitutes the raw material that is used to manufacture textiles, paper, lumber, films, thickeners and other products. The plant cell wall is also the primary source of cellulose, the most abundant and useful biopolymer on the Earth. The cell wall not only strengthens the plant body, but also has key roles in plant growth, cell differentiation, intercellular communication, water movement and defence. Recent discoveries have uncovered how plant cells synthesize wall polysaccharides, assemble them into a strong fibrous network and regulate wall expansion during cell growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, 208 Mueller Laboratory, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA. dcosgrove+2@psu.edu
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cosgrove
mesh_terms: D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000378:metabolism; D059828:Plant Cells; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; C095825:expansin protein, plant; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D016695:Glycosyltransferases; C473049:xyloglucan - xyloglucosyltransferase; D002480:Cellulase