Role of cytoskeleton in plant cell wall formation

Abstract

Cell wall, which is one important and characteristic structure of plant cells, represents the most abundant renewable resource on the earth. It exists as part of a continuum with the plasma membrane and cytoskeleton. The cell wall provides external support and the cytoskeletons including the microtubules and the microfilaments constitute an internal framework. In recent years, great progress has been made in the understanding of the roles of cytoskeleton involved in regulating plant cell wall formation. In this review, we summarized the role of cytoskeleton in trafficking of vesicles containing cell wall precursors and in the oriented deposition of cellulose microfibrils, the regulation of secondary cell wall thickening by the cytoskeleton, and the involvement of cytoskeleton in cell wall signaling. In the end, we also give some prospects for the future studies.