Fortifying the frontier: cell wall modifications during plant immunity
Deepak D Bhandari1, Sang-Jin Kim1, Federica Brandizzi1
1MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Current Opinion in Plant Biology
|October 25, 2025
Summary
Plant cell walls (CW) dynamically remodel during pathogen attacks. This review proposes a layered immune strategy involving rapid, flexible, and irreversible CW modifications for robust plant defense.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Plant Immunity
- Cellular Microbiology
Background:
- The plant cell wall (CW) was traditionally viewed as a static barrier.
- CW polysaccharides are crucial for cell integrity and defense against stressors.
- Recent evidence highlights the dynamic nature of CW remodeling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on CW component remodeling during pathogen attack.
- To propose a novel framework of layered CW remodeling as a plant immune strategy.
- To categorize CW remodeling into distinct, interconnected layers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research on plant cell wall modifications.
- Analysis of dynamic changes in CW components upon pathogen interaction.
- Conceptual framework development for layered CW remodeling.
Main Results:
- Identified three interconnected layers of CW remodeling upon pathogen attack: rapid/reversible depositions, flexible modifications with signaling roles, and irreversible fortifications.
- Demonstrated how these layers contribute to immediate protection, defense integration, and pathogen containment.
- Highlighted the CW's dual role as a physical barrier and a signaling platform.
Conclusions:
- Layered CW remodeling is a cohesive plant immune strategy integrating diverse modifications.
- This framework enhances understanding of plant defense mechanisms against pathogens.
- Further research is needed to address challenges in studying CW modifications during biotic stress.
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