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Review article2022Peer reviewed

Spatio-temporal regulation of lignification

Chantreau, Maxime; Tuominen, Hannele

Abstract

Lignin is a poly-aromatic polymer found in plant cell walls. This polymer, mainly composed of three phenylpropanoid units, confers exceptional properties to the cell wall such as hydrophobicity, mechanical strength, or resistance against stresses. Thereby the cell wall deposition of lignin represents often the main molecular event that defines the biological function(s) of the lignified cell or tissue. The time and localization of lignin deposition as well as the composition of the polymer can be considered as the three essential components of the polymer that will define the biological function of the lignified tissue. In this review, we will cover the localizations, types and functions of lignin found in various part of land plants. Then, for the various lignified tissues, the mechanisms controlling the developmental deposition of lignin such as transcriptional regulation, intercellular coordinated control of lignification or posttranslational modification of proteins will be discussed. Finally, a focus will be made on the environmental cues that influence the lignification during radial tree growth, as well as the plant responses that these signals trigger in the regulation of lignification.

Keywords

Lignin; Lignification; Regulation; Non-cell autonomous lignification

Published in

Advances in Botanical Research
2022, Volume: 104, pages: 271-316 Publisher: Elsevier