title: Cell wall remodeling under abiotic stress.
abstract: Plants exposed to abiotic stress respond to unfavorable conditions on multiple levels. One challenge under drought stress is to reduce shoot growth while maintaining root growth, a process requiring differential cell wall synthesis and remodeling. Key players in this process are the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and peroxidases, which initially cross-link phenolic compounds and glycoproteins of the cell walls causing stiffening. The function of ROS shifts after having converted all the peroxidase substrates in the cell wall. If ROS-levels remain high during prolonged stress, OH°-radicals are formed which lead to polymer cleavage. In concert with xyloglucan modifying enzymes and expansins, the resulting cell wall loosening allows further growth of stressed organs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Plant Physiology, University of Salzburg Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tenhaken
keywords: abiotic stress; boron; peroxidase; reactive oxygen species; xyloglucan endotransglucosylases/hydrolases