Pectins: structure, biosynthesis, and oligogalacturonide-related signaling

Pectin is a family of complex polysaccharides present in all plant primary cell walls. The complicated structure of the pectic polysaccharides, and th e retention by plants of the large number of genes required to synthesize p ectin. suggests that pectins have multiple functions in plant growth and de velopment. In this review we summarize the current level of understanding o f pectin primary and tertiary structure, and describe new methods that may be useful to study localized pectin structure in the plant cell wall. We al so discuss progress in our understanding of how pectin is biosynthesized an d review the biological activities and possible modes of action of pectic o ligosaccharides referred to as oligogalacturonides. We present our view of critical questions regarding pectin structure. biosynthesis. and function t hat nod to be addressed in the coming decade. As the plant community works towards understanding the Functions of the tms of thousands of gents expres sed by plants, a large number of those genes are likely to be involved in t he synthesis, turnover, biological activity, and restructuring of pectin. A combination of genetic. molecular, biochemical and chemical approaches wil l be necessary to fully understand the Function and biosynthesis of pectin. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.