Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase activity loosens a plant cell wall.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Plant cells undergo cell expansion when a temporary imbalance between the hydraulic pressure of the vacuole and the extensibility of the cell wall makes the cell volume increase dramatically. The primary cell walls of most seed plants consist of cellulose microfibrils tethered mainly by xyloglucans and embedded in a highly hydrated pectin matrix. During cell expansion the wall stress is decreased by the highly controlled rearrangement of the load-bearing tethers in the wall so that the microfibrils can move relative to each other. Here the effect was studied of a purified recombinant xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH) on the extension of isolated cell walls.

Methods

The epidermis of growing onion (Allium cepa) bulb scales is a one-cell-thick

SUBMITTER: Van Sandt VS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2759230 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature