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How do cell wall enzymes help protect plants from fungal pathogens?
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Cell wall
Cutaway drawing of a plant cell, showing the cell wall and internal organelles.
Cell wall enzymes play a critical role in plant defense against fungal pathogens by actively targeting the invader's structure. These enzymes function by breaking fragments off the cell walls of the fungi.12
Once these fungal fragments are released, they act as signaling molecules that induce specific defense responses in the plant's underlying cells, effectively alerting the plant to the presence of the pathogen. This enzymatic activity is a key component of the plant's broader strategy to maintain structural integrity and resist microbial attack, which also includes the use of lignin, cutin, and suberin to create physical barriers against penetration.123