Pectate lyases: Their role in plants and importance in fruit ripening

Plant cell walls are complex structures that are modified throughout development. They are a major contributor to the properties of plant structure and act as barriers against pathogens. The primary cell walls of plants are composed of polysaccharides and proteins. The polysaccharide fraction is divided into components cellulose, hemicelluloses and pectin, are all modified during fruit ripening. Pectin plays an important role in intercellular adhesion and controlling the porosity of the wall. A large number of pectin degrading enzymes have been characterised from plants and they are involved in numerous aspects of plant development. The role of pectate lyases in plant development has received little attention, probably because they are normally associated with the action of plant pathogenic organisms. However their importance in plant development and ripening is now becoming well established and new information about the role of pectate lyases in plant development forms the focus of this review.