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Expansins - unique plant proteins
Subtitle:Expansins - unique plant proteins
Creator:Łuczak, Magdalena ; Wojtaszek, Przemysław
Publisher:Committee on Biotechnology PAS ; Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry PAS
Date issued/created: Subject and Keywords: Abstract:Expansins are extracellular proteins which are able to loosen cell walls thusmaking possible the extension and stress relaxation of plant walls. Expansinsare classified on the basis of sequence similarities and substrate specificity intotwo subfamilies of a- and p-expansins. The expansins’ mode of action is basedon the weakening of hydrogen bonds between cellulose microfibrils and on interacting matrix polymers, especially hemicelluloses. However, they do not reveal any hydrolytic or proteolytic activity. The activity of expansins is decisivefor the control of plant cells’ shape, and thus these proteins are thought to bean important component of biochemical machineries controlling cell growthand differentiation, as well as plant morphogenesis and development. This article reviews the advances made since the discovery of expansins and describestheir characteristic features, including protein structure and biochemical modeof action, molecular organisation of expansin-coding genes, and biological functions of these unusual proteins.
Relation:Biotechnologia, vol.59, 4 (2002)-.
Volume: Issue: Start page: End page: Resource type: Detailed Resource Type: Format: Resource Identifier: Source:Library of Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry PAS
Language: Language of abstract: Temporal coverage: Rights:Creative Commons Attribution BY-SA 4.0 license
Terms of use: Digitizing institution:Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Science
Original in:Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Science
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