title: Oligogalacturonides: plant damage-associated molecular patterns and regulators of growth and development.
abstract: Oligogalacturonides (OGs) are oligomers of alpha-1,4-linked galacturonosyl residues released from plant cell walls upon partial degradation of homogalacturonan. OGs are able to elicit defense responses, including accumulation of reactive oxygen species and pathogenesis-related proteins, and protect plants against pathogen infections. Recent studies demonstrated that OGs are perceived by wall-associated kinases and share signaling components with microbe-associated molecular patterns. For this reason OGs are now considered true damage-associated molecular patterns that activate the plant innate immunity and may also be involved in the activation of responses to mechanical wounding. Furthermore, OGs appear to modulate developmental processes, likely through their ability to antagonize auxin responses. Here we review our current knowledge on the role and mode of action of this class of oligosaccharides in plant defense and development.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Daniel V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Savatin
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sicilia
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gramegna
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cervone
authors.forename: Giulia De
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Lorenzo
keywords: cell wall; damage-associated molecular patterns; defense responses; elicitors; innate immunity; oligogalacturonides; pectin; signal transduction