How do plant cell walls extend?
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Updated: Oct 4, 2026

Measuring Plant Cell Wall Extension (Creep) Induced by Acidic pH and by Alpha-Expansin
Published on: March 11, 2009
1Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16865.
Abstract:
This article briefly summarizes recent work that identifies the biophysical and biochemical processes that give rise to the extension of plant cell walls. I begin with the biophysical notion of stress relaxation of the wall and follow with recent studies of wall enzymes thought to catalyze wall extension and relaxation. Readers should refer to detailed reviews for more comprehensive discussion of earlier literature (Taiz, 1984; Carpita and Gibeaut, 1993; Cosgrove, 1993).
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