Building an extensible cell wall

This article recounts, from my perspective of four decades in this field, evolving paradigms of primary cell wall structure and the mechanism of surface enlargement of growing cell walls. Updates of the structures, physical interactions, and roles of cellulose, xyloglucan, and pectins are presented. This leads to an example of how a conceptual depiction of wall structure can be translated into an explicit quantitative model based on molecular dynamics methods. Comparison of the model's mechanical behavior with experimental results provides insights into the molecular basis of complex mechanical behaviors of primary cell wall and uncovers the dominant role of cellulose-cellulose interactions in forming a strong yet extensible network. The ordered synthesis and bundling of cellulose microfibrils leads to a strong yet extensible surface network whose organization and physical properties are modulated by pliant matrix polysaccharides.

Automated summary

This article discusses the evolution of primary cell wall structure and the mechanism of surface enlargement, highlighting the role of cellulose, xyloglucan, and pectins. By using molecular dynamics methods, a quantitative model is developed to understand the mechanical behavior of the cell wall, revealing the dominant role of cellulose-cellulose interactions in forming a strong yet extensible network.