Abstract

In bacteria, fungi and plants, pectin methylesterases are ubiquitous enzymes that modify the degree of methyl-esterification of pectins, which are major components of plant cell walls. Such changes in pectin structure are associated with changes in cellular adhesion, plasticity, pH and ionic contents of the cell wall and influence plant development and stress responses, In plants, pectin methylesterases belong to large multigene families, are regulated in a highly specific manner, and are involved in vegetative and reproductive processes, including wood and pollen formation, in addition to plant-pathogen interactions. Although, overall, protein structures are highly conserved between isoforms, recent data indicate that structural variations might be associated with the targeting and functions of specific pectin methylesterases

Published in

Trends in Plant Science
2007, Volume: 12, number: 6, pages: 267-277
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE LONDON

SLU Authors

• Mellerowicz, Ewa

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2007.04.001

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/15708