Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026
12:30
Glycan Profiling of Plant Cell Wall Polymers using Microarrays
Published on: December 17, 2012
Cellulose-binding domains: cellulose associated-defensive sensing partners?
Bernard Dumas1, Arnaud Bottin, Elodie Gaulin
1Unité Mixte de Recherche 5546 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, Pôle de Biotechnologie Végétale, 24 Chemin de Borde-Rouge, BP42617 Auzeville, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France.
Trends in Plant Science
|March 11, 2008
Summary
Phytophthora cellulose-binding elicitor lectin (CBEL) domains trigger plant defenses by altering cellulose. This research proposes a model linking cellulose changes to defense induction via calcium signaling.
Area of Science:
- Plant pathology
- Molecular biology
- Cell wall biology
Background:
- Cellulose-binding domains (CBDs) in Phytophthora cellulose-binding elicitor lectin (CBEL) are known to elicit plant defense responses.
- Plant defense induction has been observed in cellulose-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana mutants, suggesting a link between cellulose and immunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a model explaining how alterations in cellulose lead to the induction of plant defense responses.
- To investigate the role of calcium signaling and cell wall components in mediating these responses.
Main Methods:
- Observational analysis of defense responses in plants treated with CBEL.
- Integration of existing data on calcium influx and cellulose synthase complex interactions.
- Hypothesizing a signaling cascade initiated by cell wall perturbations.
Main Results:
- CBDs are identified as potent elicitors of plant defense mechanisms.
- A model is proposed where cellulose alteration, potentially mediated by CBDs, triggers defense.
- The model incorporates calcium signaling and interactions with the cellulose synthase complex.
Conclusions:
- Cellulose alteration is a key factor in inducing plant defense responses.
- CBDs serve as valuable tools for dissecting the signaling pathways involved in cell wall-related defense.
- Understanding these pathways can lead to new strategies for crop protection and disease resistance.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Cellulose and Pectic Polysaccharides
Every plant cell has a cell wall that protects the cell, provides structural support, and gives the cell shape. Cellulose, the main structural component of the plant cell wall, makes up over 30% of plant matter. It is the most abundant organic compound on earth. Cellulose is an unbranched polysaccharide composed of linear chains of glucose molecules linked by β (1→4) glycosidic bonds.
As a cell matures, its cell wall specializes according to its type. For example, the parenchyma cells of...
As a cell matures, its cell wall specializes according to its type. For example, the parenchyma cells of...
01:14Cell Adhesion in Plants
Plants have rigid cell walls that are made up of cell wall polysaccharides that mediate cell-cell adhesion. The primary cell walls of plants consist of two independent and interacting polysaccharide networks: a pectin matrix that embeds the second network comprising cellulose and hemicelluloses.
Pectins are complex heteropolymers mainly composed of negatively-charged α-D-glucopyranosyl uronic acid and some neutral glycosyl residues such as α-L-rhamnopyranose, α-L-arabinofuranose, and...
Pectins are complex heteropolymers mainly composed of negatively-charged α-D-glucopyranosyl uronic acid and some neutral glycosyl residues such as α-L-rhamnopyranose, α-L-arabinofuranose, and...
01:02Role of Microtubules in Cell Wall Deposition
Microtubules are small hollow tubes in eukaryotic cells. The cell wall microtubules are polymerized dimers of two globular proteins, α-tubulin and β-tubulin, two globular proteins. With a diameter of about 25 nm, microtubules are the widest components of the cytoskeleton. They help the cell resist compression and provide a track along which vesicles move through the cell or pull replicated chromosomes to opposite ends of a dividing cell. Microtubules go through quick cycles of disassembly and...
02:43Plant Cell Wall
The plant cell wall gives plant cells shape, support, and protection. As a cell matures, its cell wall specializes according to the cell type. For example, the parenchyma cells of leaves possess only a thin, primary cell wall.Collenchyma and sclerenchyma cells, on the other hand, mainly occur in the outer layers of a plant's stems and leaves. These cells provide the plant with strength and support by either partially thickening their primary cell wall (i.e., collenchyma), or depositing a...
01:07Plant Cell Wall
Plant cells have a cell wall, a rigid outer covering that protects the cell and provides shape and support. During cell division, a mixture of enzymes, proteins, and glucose molecules is transported via vesicles to the center of the cell. These vesicles continuously fuse and build a cell plate between the dividing cells. As the cell plate matures, new polysaccharides are added to it to form the cell walls of the daughter cells. The predominant polysaccharide in the cell wall is cellulose, made...
01:25Cell Signaling in Plants
Plant cells communicate to coordinate their cycle of growth, flowering and fruiting, and activities in roots, shoots, and leaves in response to the changing environmental conditions. Plant signaling is distinct from animal signaling. Plants primarily utilize enzyme-linked receptors, whereas the largest class of cell-surface receptors in animals are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Unlike animals, receptor tyrosine kinases are rare in plants. Instead, plants have a diverse class of...