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Pectin homogalacturonan nanofilament expansion drives morphogenesis in plant epidermal cells.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Wightman, Raymond 
Meyerowitz, Elliot M  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4798-5153

Abstract

The process by which plant cells expand and gain shape has presented a challenge for researchers. Current models propose that these processes are driven by turgor pressure acting on the cell wall. Using nanoimaging, we show that the cell wall contains pectin nanofilaments that possess an intrinsic expansion capacity. Additionally, we use growth models containing such structures to show that a complex plant cell shape can derive from chemically induced local and polarized expansion of the pectin nanofilaments without turgor-driven growth. Thus, the plant cell wall, outside of the cell itself, is an active participant in shaping plant cells. Extracellular matrix function may similarly guide cell shape in other kingdoms, including Animalia.

Description

Keywords

Arabidopsis, Cell Shape, Cell Wall, Cotyledon, Methylation, Molecular Imaging, Pectins, Plant Cells, Plant Development, Plant Epidermis

Journal Title

Science

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0036-8075
1095-9203

Volume Title

367

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Gatsby Charitable Foundation (unknown)