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Related Concept Videos

Cellulose and Pectic Polysaccharides01:15

Cellulose 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.
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Cell Adhesion in Plants01:14

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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.
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Plant 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...
Plant Cell Wall02:43

Plant 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.
The Phragmoplast01:59

The Phragmoplast

Cell division is essential for organismal growth and development. In animal cells, the central spindle and its associated proteins form the midbody, a structure that has an essential role in cytokinesis. In plants, the central spindle, along with the microtubules, actin, and other cell components, matures into the phragmoplast, which is necessary for cytokinesis. Unlike the stationary midbody, the phragmoplast expands centrifugally, eventually leading to the formation of the new cell wall.
The...
Role of Microtubules in Cell Wall Deposition01:02

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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...

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Updated: May 26, 2026

Double-Staining Method to Detect Pectin in Plant-Fungus Interaction
06:39

Double-Staining Method to Detect Pectin in Plant-Fungus Interaction

Published on: February 4, 2022

Growth control by cell wall pectins.

Sebastian Wolf1, Steffen Greiner

  • 1Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin UMR1318 INRA/AgroParisTech, Route de Saint-Cyr, 78026 Versailles, France.

Protoplasma
|January 5, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Plant cell growth relies on cell wall extensibility, regulated by pectin methylesterase (PME) activity. This enzyme modifies homogalacturonan, impacting cell expansion and development, particularly in the shoot apical meristem.

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Fluorescent Immunolocalization of Arabinogalactan Proteins and Pectins in the Cell Wall of Plant Tissues
10:14

Fluorescent Immunolocalization of Arabinogalactan Proteins and Pectins in the Cell Wall of Plant Tissues

Published on: February 27, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Plant Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Plant cell growth is governed by the interplay between turgor pressure and cell wall extensibility.
  • Cell walls, composed of various polysaccharides, achieve tensile strength while maintaining extensibility through complex architecture and remodeling.
  • Cell wall biosynthesis and cell expansion are distinct processes, necessitating post-deposition polymer modification for growth control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of homogalacturonan demethylesterification by pectin methylesterase (PME) as a critical module for plant cell growth control.
  • To highlight the function of PME-mediated modifications in the context of plant development.
  • To emphasize the recent findings on PME's role in shoot apical meristem primordial development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on plant cell wall structure and biosynthesis.
  • Analysis of the biochemical properties and modifications of pectin polysaccharides, specifically homogalacturonan.
  • Focus on enzymatic activity of pectin methylesterase (PME) and its impact on cell wall properties.

Main Results:

  • Pectins, particularly homogalacturonan, are crucial for cell wall functionality and are subject to extensive modification.
  • Pectin methylesterase (PME) catalyzes homogalacturonan demethylesterification, acting as a key regulator of cell wall extensibility and plant growth.
  • This PME-driven process plays a significant role in the development of the shoot apical meristem.

Conclusions:

  • Pectin methylesterase-mediated homogalacturonan modification is a vital mechanism for controlling plant cell growth and development.
  • The precise regulation of cell wall properties through pectin modification is essential for achieving coordinated growth.
  • Understanding PME's function provides insights into developmental processes, especially in meristematic tissues.