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Related Experiment Videos

How do cell walls regulate plant growth?

David Stuart Thompson1

  • 1School of Biosciences, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW, UK. thompss@wmin.ac.uk

Journal of Experimental Botany
|August 3, 2005
PubMed
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The sticky network model for plant cell walls faces theoretical challenges. Alternative models suggest polymers act as scaffolds, regulating microfibril movement and affecting tissue extensibility.

Area of Science:

  • Plant Cell Wall Biomechanics
  • Plant Physiology
  • Polymer Physics

Background:

  • The traditional 'sticky network' model describes plant cell walls as inextensible cellulose microfibrils linked by hemicelluloses via hydrogen bonds.
  • This model posits cell wall growth occurs through the breakage or peeling of these 'tethers' by expansins.
  • However, this model presents theoretical difficulties and discrepancies with experimental observations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify theoretical inconsistencies and empirical discrepancies with the 'sticky network' model of plant cell wall growth.
  • To explore alternative biophysical models for cell wall mechanics and growth.
  • To investigate the role of cell wall polymers as scaffolds regulating microfibril movement.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Theoretical analysis of the 'sticky network' model, evaluating predictions against experimental data.
  • Examination of composite materials (bacterial cellulose with xyloglucan) to assess hemicellulose binding effects.
  • Investigation of the impact of calcium chelators and relative permittivity on cell wall creep and contraction.
  • Brief description of experiments demonstrating the relationship between cell wall free volume and extensibility.

    • Main Results:

    • The 'sticky network' model predicts cell walls weaker than observed and underestimates hydrogen bond energy required for expansion.
    • Hemicelluloses do not appear to strengthen cellulose composites, contradicting the binding hypothesis.
    • Calcium chelators and altered permittivity affect cell wall mechanical properties similarly to expansins, challenging the tether-breakage model.
    • Experiments show reduced cell wall free volume decreases tissue extensibility, supporting a scaffold-based model.

    Conclusions:

    • The 'sticky network' model is insufficient to explain plant cell wall growth and mechanics.
    • Alternative models, where cell wall polymers function as scaffolds regulating space for microfibril movement, offer a better explanation.
    • Cell wall free volume is a critical factor influencing tissue extensibility.