Cell Wall Modifications Induced by Nematodes

Gall-forming root-knot nematodes hijack key plant cellular functions to induce multinucleate and hypertrophied feeding cells

“…Laser microdissection capture of GC at the early stages of development (3 days after infection) showed that members of the cellulose synthase-like family were upregulated with a higher fold-change value in GC than in other gall tissue (Barcala et al, 2010). CW modifying proteins were also implicated in the extensive wall modifications of the GC (Sobczak et al, 2011). Microarrays studies confirmed that several classes of genes coding for CW remodelling enzymes, including expansins and xyloglucan transglycosylases (XET), are activated very early in the plant's response to RKN (Jammes et al, 2005;Barcala et al, 2010;Ibrahim et al, 2011;Ji et al, 2013).…”

“…Expression of genes involved in CW remodelling was found to be strongly induced during the formation of GC (Sobczak et al, 2011). Analysis of gene expression of ten cellulose synthase genes gave a comprehensive view of their localisation dynamics in galls (Hudson, 2009).…”

On the track of transfer cell formation by specialized plant-parasitic nematodes

“…During the maturation of a syncytium wall in contact with vascular cells, invaginations develop at regions in close contact with the secondary xylem and phloem elements ( Figure 4C ; Golinowski et al, 1996; Sobczak et al, 2011). Nematode feeding is highly depending on transfer of solutes from neighboring phloem and xylem elements.…”

Cell Wall Alterations in Nematode-Infected Roots

“…For both syncytia and giant cells induced by cyst and root-knot nematodes, respectively, it was shown that several plant cell wall-related proteins such as expansins, cellulases, pectate lyases and polygalacturonases are involved in their formation. The expression of most of these genes shows a specific temporal and special pattern within the feeding site or in adjacent root cells, a phenomenon that requires a tight and sophisticated regulation (reviewed in Sobczak, Fudali, & Wieczorek, 2011;Barcala et al, 2010;Gheysen & Fenoll, 2002;Gheysen & Mitchum, 2009;Jammes et al, 2005;Szakasits et al, 2009;Wieczorek et al, 2006Wieczorek et al, , 2008Wieczorek et al, , 2014. Majority of the microscopic and molecular data concerning the cell wall modifications in nematode feeding sites was gained from the model plant Arabidopsis.…”