Article
Plant Sciences
Rui Zhang, Bo Li, Yunjun Zhao, Yingying Zhu, Laigeng Li
Summary: The AtMAN6 gene in Arabidopsis plays a critical role in the formation of cell walls in vascular tissues by degrading galactoglucomannan and producing oligosaccharides that regulate the coordination between cell growth and secondary cell wall deposition.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Ruiqi Wang, Miaomiao Xie, Wenna Zhao, Pingyu Yan, Yuting Wang, Yongmei Gu, Tingbo Jiang, Guanzheng Qu
Summary: In this study, RNA-Seq analysis was used to study the gene expression in different stages of poplar stems. A total of 2028 genes were identified to be highly expressed in the secondary stem, with functions mainly involved in cell wall biosynthesis, xylem development, and programmed cell death. Among these genes, 690 were directly associated with lignification in the secondary stem. The study also predicted gene promoter cis-elements and protein interactions, revealing the importance of 54 transcription factors in the wood lignification process.
Article
Plant Sciences
Shenquan Cao, Mengjie Guo, Jiyao Cheng, Hao Cheng, Xiaomeng Liu, Huanhuan Ji, Guanjun Liu, Yuxiang Cheng, Chuanping Yang
Summary: The AP17 and AP45 genes in Populus trichocarpa play important roles in xylem maturation during wood development by regulating programmed cell death of fibres. Mutations or overexpression of these genes affect lignin content and fibre cell wall thickness, and significantly increase saccharification yield in wood. Thus, they are potential candidate genes for engineering lignocellulosic wood for biofuel utilization.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Carolin Seyfferth, Bernard A. Wessels, Jorma Vahala, Jaakko Kangasjarvi, Nicolas Delhomme, Torgeir R. Hvidsten, Hannele Tuominen, Judith Lundberg-Felten
Summary: PtERF85 plays a crucial role in balancing xylem cell expansion and secondary cell wall (SCW) formation in hybrid aspen, by activating genes related to cell expansion while preventing the synthesis of SCW chemical components. The spatial expression of PtERF85 during wood development contributes to transition of fiber cells from elongation to secondary cell wall deposition.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Holly Allen, Leo Zeef, Kris Morreel, Geert Goeminne, Manoj Kumar, Leonardo D. Gomez, Andrew P. Dean, Axel Eckmann, Cinzia Casiraghi, Simon J. McQueen-Mason, Wout Boerjan, Simon R. Turner
Summary: Woody plant material has the potential to produce biofuels and other bio-based products with favorable CO(2) emissions. Recent research demonstrated the use of flexible moldable wood to generate novel structural materials. The Apple rubbery wood (ARW) disease causes increased flexibility in woody stems due to a viral infection. The symptoms of ARWV infections arise from reduced lignification in the secondary cell wall of xylem fibers, resulting in increased wood digestibility. The downregulation of PAL, the enzyme involved in lignin biosynthesis, and the accumulation of PAL-derived vasiRNAs contribute to the altered lignin in the infected wood.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yoshimi Nakano, Hitoshi Endo, Lorenz Gerber, Chiaki Hori, Ayumi Ihara, Masayo Sekimoto, Tomoko Matsumoto, Jun Kikuchi, Misato Ohtani, Taku Demura
Summary: Researchers have developed a self-reinforced system to enhance the formation of secondary cell walls (SCW) in poplar xylem. By using transcription factors fused with specific gene promoters, the expression levels of SCW-related genes were increased, resulting in enhanced SCW thickening in transgenic plants. Furthermore, this method was found to affect the properties of cell walls.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Nurul A. Idris, Maketelana Aleamotu'a, David W. McCurdy, David A. Collings
Summary: Understanding the mechanisms of secondary cell wall formation in plants is crucial for determining the physical properties of plant-derived materials. The orchid root velamen, with its pattern variation controlled by microtubules, provides a suitable model system for studying plant cell wall organization, especially in adaptable orchids like Laelia anceps, offering potential for significant contributions in this field.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Leonard Blaschek, Emiko Murozuka, Henrik Serk, Delphine Menard, Edouard Pesquet
Summary: Vascular plants use lignin phenolic polymers to strengthen the cell walls of different xylem cell types. The chemistry of lignin varies between each cell wall layer and each cell type. Multiple individual laccases are specifically required to control the lignin chemistry in different cell types and cell wall layers.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jiaxue Zhang, Yadi Liu, Conghui Li, Bin Yin, Xiatong Liu, Xiaorui Guo, Chong Zhang, Di Liu, Inhwan Hwang, Hui Li, Hai Lu
Summary: This study reveals the crucial role of mitochondrial ascorbate peroxidase in catalyzing lignin polymerization during the early stages of secondary cell wall formation. It also describes how xylem cells provide autonomous enzymes needed for lignin polymerization by coupling with the programmed cell death process.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chang Liu, Hasi Yu, Xiaolan Rao, Laigeng Li, Richard A. Dixon
Summary: This study reveals that SnRK2 kinases regulate the thickness and lignification of secondary cell walls in Arabidopsis by phosphorylating the NST1 transcription factor. Loss of NST1 function leads to a lack of SCWs in the stem, indicating the importance of NST1 in SCW formation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Huizhen Xu, Alessandro Giannetti, Yuki Sugiyama, Wenna Zheng, Rene Schneider, Yoichiro Watanabe, Yoshihisa Oda, Staffan Persson
Summary: The organization and behavior of microtubules play a crucial role in the formation of plant cell walls and the synthesis of cellulose. Small GTPases control the microtubule patterns. This article gives an overview of the process of wall formation in water-transporting xylem vessels and discusses the challenges in studying this field.
Article
Forestry
Tong-Yan LIu, Chengjun Ji, Zhiyao Tang
Summary: By integrating multiple methods, we can quantitatively describe the cell wall deposition and lignification degree for softwood and hardwood tree species, improving the accuracy of cell development stage discrimination. This approach has potential applications in studying scientific issues related to wood formation and accumulation processes.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ruixue Xiao, Chong Zhang, Xiaorui Guo, Hui Li, Hai Lu
Summary: The secondary wall of wood is composed of cellulose, xylan, lignin, and small amounts of proteins and enzymes, with lignin molecules interacting with other components to enhance the strength and hydrophobicity of plant cells. MYB transcription factors regulate the biosynthesis of secondary cell walls by modulating lignin, cellulose, and xylan synthesis, with MYB46 and MYB83 playing important roles in this process. Other MYB transcription factors, along with noncoding RNAs, hormones, and other factors, also contribute to the regulation of secondary wall biosynthesis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Qi Yin, Lu Kang, Yi Liu, Mirza Faisal Qaseem, Wenqi Qin, Tingting Liu, Huiling Li, Xiaomei Deng, Ai-min Wu
Summary: Boron deficiency has severe impacts on the growth and development of Neolamarckia cadamba, leading to reduced seedling growth and increased lignification. It also results in changes in cell wall composition, such as decreased pectin content and enhanced phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Akula Nookaraju, Shashank K. Pandey, Yogesh K. Ahlawat, Chandrashekhar P. Joshi
Summary: Lignocellulosic biomass from plant secondary cell walls is a promising source for second-generation biofuels. Understanding the synthesis of these complex walls is crucial for their deconstruction into simple sugars for bioethanol production. Knotted-like homeobox (KNOX) genes play a significant role in secondary cell wall formation.
