Subtitle:

Expansins - unique plant proteins

Publisher:

Committee on Biotechnology PAS ; Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry PAS

Abstract:

Expansins are extracellular proteins which are able to loosen cell walls thusmaking possible the extension and stress relaxation of plant walls. Expansinsare classified on the basis of sequence similarities and substrate specificity intotwo subfamilies of a- and p-expansins. The expansins’ mode of action is basedon the weakening of hydrogen bonds between cellulose microfibrils and on interacting matrix polymers, especially hemicelluloses. However, they do not reveal any hydrolytic or proteolytic activity. The activity of expansins is decisivefor the control of plant cells’ shape, and thus these proteins are thought to bean important component of biochemical machineries controlling cell growthand differentiation, as well as plant morphogenesis and development. This article reviews the advances made since the discovery of expansins and describestheir characteristic features, including protein structure and biochemical modeof action, molecular organisation of expansin-coding genes, and biological functions of these unusual proteins.

Relation:

Biotechnologia, vol.59, 4 (2002)-.

Volume:

59

Issue:

4

Start page:

176

End page:

189

Detailed Resource Type:

Article

Format:

application/pdf

Resource Identifier:

0860-7796 ; oai:rcin.org.pl:137713 ; IChB B-55

Source:

Library of Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry PAS

Language:

pol

Language of abstract:

eng

Temporal coverage:

1988-2010

Rights:

Creative Commons Attribution BY-SA 4.0 license

Terms of use:

Copyright-protected material. [CC BY-SA 4.0] May be used within the scope specified in Creative Commons Attribution BY-SA 4.0 license, full text available at:

Digitizing institution:

Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Science

Original in:

Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Science

Projects co-financed by:

Operational Program Digital Poland, 2014-2020, Measure 2.3: Digital accessibility and usefulness of public sector information; funds from the European Regional Development Fund and national co-financing from the state budget.

Access:

Open