Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2025

Live Cell Imaging of Microtubule Cytoskeleton and Micromechanical Manipulation of the Arabidopsis Shoot Apical Meristem
Published on: May 23, 2020
Modulation of morphogenesis and metabolism by plant cell biomechanics: from model plants to traditional herbs
Zhengpeng Wang1,2,3, Xiaoming Ye4, Luqi Huang2,3
1Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing 100700, China.
Abstract:
The quality of traditional herbs depends on organ morphogenesis and the accumulation of active pharmaceutical ingredients. While recent research highlights the significance of cell mechanobiology in model plant morphogenesis, our understanding of mechanical signal initiation and transduction in traditional herbs remains incomplete. Recent studies reveal a close correlation between cell wall (CW) biosynthesis and active ingredient production, yet the role of cell mechanics in balancing morphogenesis and secondary metabolism is often overlooked. This review explores how the cell wall, plasma membrane, cytoskeleton, and vacuole collaborate to regulate cell mechanics and respond to mechanical changes. We propose CW biosynthesis as a hub in connecting cell mechanics with secondary metabolism and emphasize that understanding the relationship between mechanical remodeling and secondary metabolism could provide new insights into plant cell mechanobiology and the breeding of high-quality herbs.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Morphogenesis
Cell Signaling in Plants
Plant Hormones
Primary and Secondary Growth in Roots and Shoots
Plant Tissues
Cell Adhesion in Plants
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,...

