When pectins and proteins join forces: a new mechanism for assembling the plant wall

When pectins and proteins join forces: a new mechanism for assembling the plant wall

The cell wall of plants is made up of a network that is both extremely strong and flexible, mainly composed of polysaccharides (long chains of sugars), including pectins, which have long been known for their gelling properties. In vivo, the wall must be both plastic, to allow cell growth, and solid, to perform its protective functions.

To understand the mechanism of plant growth, it is essential to unravel the process of assembly and elongation of this wall.