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Feruloylated pectins from the primary cell wall: their structure and possible functions.
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, CB2 1QW, Cambridge, UK.
Planta
|November 23, 2013
Summary
Spinach cell walls contain ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid attached to polysaccharides. These feruloylated pectins are linked to cell expansion, disease resistance, and lignification.
Area of Science:
- Plant cell wall biochemistry
- Plant cell wall structure and function
Background:
- Primary cell walls of spinach contain ferulic and p-coumaric acids esterified to polysaccharides.
- These feruloylated polysaccharides exhibit properties similar to total cell-wall pectin.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structure and linkages of ferulic acid in spinach cell walls.
- To understand the role of feruloylated pectins in plant biology.
Main Methods:
- Extraction using chelating agents and trans-elimination degradation.
- Mild acid extraction and electrophoretic separation.
- Enzymatic (Driselase) and partial acid hydrolysis of cell walls.
Main Results:
- Feruloylated polysaccharides were extracted and characterized.
- Feruloyl groups were found on the non-reducing termini of galactose- and arabinose-containing oligosaccharides.
- A homologous series of feruloyl oligosaccharides with a proposed structure was identified.
Conclusions:
- Ferulic acid is esterified to pectins on the non-reducing termini of neutral arabinose- and/or galactose-containing domains.
- Feruloylated pectins may play roles in cell expansion, disease resistance, and lignification initiation.
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