Interconnections between cell wall polymers, wall mechanics, and cortical microtubules: Teasing out causes and consequences.
In plants, cell wall components including cellulose, hemicelluloses, and pectins interact with each other to form complex extracellular network structures that control cell growth and maintain cell shape. However, it is still not clear exactly how different wall polymers interact, how the conformations and interactions of cell wall polymers relate to wall mechanics, and how these factors impinge on intracellular structures such as the cortical microtubule cytoskeleton. Here, based on studies of Arabidopsis thaliana xxt1 xxt2 mutants, which lack detectable xyloglucan in their walls and display aberrant wall mechanics, altered cellulose patterning and biosynthesis, and reduced cortical microtubule stability, we discuss the potential relationships between cell wall biosynthesis, wall mechanics, and cytoskeletal dynamics in an effort to better understand their roles in controlling plant growth and morphogenesis.
a Department of Biology , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , PA , USA.|b Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation, The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , PA , USA.
Chaowen
C
Xiao
a Department of Biology , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , PA , USA.|b Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation, The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , PA , USA.
Charles T
CT
Anderson
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D005936:Glucans / Q000378:metabolism; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D014990:Xylans / Q000378:metabolism
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D005936:Glucans; D014990:Xylans; C029353:xyloglucan; D002482:Cellulose
Arabidopsis thaliana; cellulose; microtubules; plant cell walls; wall mechanics; xyloglucan