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Which roles do enzymes play in plant cell walls?
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Cell wall
Cutaway drawing of a plant cell, showing the cell wall and internal organelles.
Enzymes within the plant cell wall perform several critical biological functions:
- Network Formation: Certain enzymes facilitate the cross-linking of structural components, including extensin, lignin, cutin, and suberin, into complex molecular networks.12
- Defense Mechanisms: Enzymes help protect plants from fungal pathogens by cleaving fragments from the fungal cell walls. These fragments act as signals that trigger defense responses in the plant's underlying cells.12
- Developmental Processes: Cell wall-degrading enzymes are responsible for physiological changes such as the softening of ripening fruit and the abscission (dropping) of leaves during the autumn.12