Overview of the Role of Cell Wall DUF642 Proteins in Plant Development

Abstract

The DUF642 protein family is found exclusively in spermatophytes and is represented by 10 genes in Arabidopsis and in most of the 24 plant species analyzed to date. Even though the primary structure of DUF642 proteins is highly conserved in different spermatophyte species, studies of their expression patterns in Arabidopsis have shown that the spatial-temporal expression pattern for each gene is specific and consistent with the phenotypes of the mutant plants studied so far. Additionally, the regulation of DUF642 gene expression by hormones and environmental stimuli was specific for each gene, showing both up- and down-regulation depending of the analyzed tissue and the intensity or duration of the stimuli. These expression patterns suggest that the DUF642 genes are involved throughout the development and growth of plants. In general, changes in the expression patterns of DUF642 genes can be related to changes in pectin methyl esterase activity and/or to changes in the degree of methyl-esterified homogalacturonans during plant development in different cell types. Thus, the regulation of pectin methyl esterases mediated by DUF642 genes could contribute to the regulation of the cell wall properties during plant growth.

Cell Wall Proteome of Wheat Grain Endosperm and Outer Layers at Two Key Stages of Early Development

“…The DUF642 proteins belong to a well-conserved family. They were shown to be involved in plant development [59]. They may modulate the activity of PMEs, which are more abundant in the outer layers than in the endosperm, suggesting that their function could be related to the regulation of HG modifications by interacting with the catalytic domain of PME.…”

Transcriptome-wide identification and characterization of microRNAs in diverse phases of wood formation in Populus trichocarpa

“…6). ptc-miR6441 CTG PMR5 (Potri.001G278300), which affects pectin composition [55]; novel-m0058-3p CTG CRA1 (Potri.005G224700), which regulates ligni cation and avonoid production [56], and miR5248-x CTG DUF642 (Potri.003G059800), which is a pectin methyl esterase and contributes to the modi cation of cell wall properties [57], were up-regulated in TS compared with those in PS or SS ( Fig. 6).…”

“…For example, miR5248-x was involved in the middle phase of wood formation by regulating DUF642 (Potri.003G059800) related to the modi cation of cell wall properties (Fig. 9) [57]. ptc-miR6441 participated in the late phase of wood formation by alleviating the inhibitory effects on PMR5 (Potri.001G278300) related to the regulation of pectin composition (Fig.…”

Plant Cell Wall Proteins and Development

“…Eight experimental articles, nine up-to-date review articles, as well as a concept article, have been published. We wish to thank all the authors for their great contribution to this unique collection of articles as well as the International Journal of Molecular Science supporting team.The content of this Special Issue embraces several topics, all of them stressing the roles of cell wall proteins: cell wall proteomics studies on monocot species [7,12]; the role of cell wall proteins during plant development [13][14][15] or in response to environmental stresses [16][17][18][19]; overviews on several cell wall protein families either from green microalgae [20] or from plants, i.e., fasciclin arabinogalactan proteins (FLAs) [21,22], membrane-bound class III peroxidases (Class III Prxs) [23], pectin methylesterases inhibitors [24], DUF642 (Domain of Unknown Function 642) proteins [25], and Proline-rich, Arabinogalactan proteins, conserved Cysteines (PAC) domain-proteins [26]; and the role of fasciclin arabinogalactan proteins (FLAs) in Ca 2+ signaling during plant morphogenesis [27,28].For two decades, cell wall proteomics has become a powerful experimental approach and has revealed the diversity of the cell wall protein families. Arabidopsis thaliana has been the most studied plant species, and almost half of its expected cell wall proteome has been described so far (see WallProtDB, http://www.polebio.lrsv.ups-tlse.fr/WallProtDB/).…”

“…These proteins participate in the regulation of the degree of methylesterification of the pectic homogalacturonans, which in turn contributes to cell adhesion, cell wall porosity, and plasticity. Finally, Cruz-Valderrama et al [25] propose a role for the DUF642 protein family in development and in response to environmental stresses by modulating directly, or indirectly, the degree of methylation of homogalacturonans. These proteins were first described as abundant proteins in cell wall proteomes [38] and were until recently considered proteins with unknown function.…”