Abstract
Background
Cell elongation is mainly limited by the extensibility of the cell wall. Dicotyledonous primary (growing) cell walls contain cellulose, xyloglucan, pectin and proteins, but little is known about how each polymer class contributes to the cell wall mechanical properties that control extensibility.
Results
We present evidence that the degree of pectin methyl-esterification (DE%) limits cell growth, and that a minimum level of about 60% DE is required for normal cell elongation in Arabidopsishypocotyls. When the average DE% falls below this level, as in two gibberellic acid (GA) mutantsga1-3 and gai, and plants expressing pectin methyl-esterase (PME1) from Aspergillus aculeatus, then hypocotyl elongation is reduced.
Conclusion
Low average levels of pectin DE% are associated with reduced cell elongation, implicating PMEs, the enzymes that regulate DE%, in the cell elongation process and in responses to GA. At high average DE% other components of the cell wall limit GA-induced growth.
Date of this Version
6-17-2007
DOI
10.1186/1471-2229-7-31
Recommended Citation
Derbyshire, Paul; McCann, Maureen C.; and Roberts, Keith, "Restricted Cell Elongation in Arabidopsis Hypocotyls is Associated with a Reduced Average Pectin Esterification Level" (2007). Department of Biological Sciences Faculty Publications. Paper 12.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2229-7-31
Comments
This is the publisher pdf of Paul Derbyshire, Maureen C McCann, Keith Roberts. Restricted Cell Elongation in Arabidopsis Hypocotyls is Associated with a Reduced Average Pectin Esterification Level. BMC Plant Biology 2007, 7:31 (17 June 2007) and is available at: 10.1186/1471-2229-7-31.