法国巴黎萨克雷大学Alexis Peaucelle、英国剑桥大学Kalina T. Haas等研究人员合作发现，果胶半乳糖醛酸聚糖纳米纤维扩张促进植物表皮细胞的形态发生。该项研究成果发表在2020年2月28日出版的《科学》杂志上。

Title: Pectin homogalacturonan nanofilament expansion drives morphogenesis in plant epidermal cells

Author: Kalina T. Haas, Raymond Wightman, Elliot M. Meyerowitz, Alexis Peaucelle

Issue&Volume: 2020/02/28

Abstract: AbstractThe process by which plant cells expand and gain shape has presented a challenge for researchers. Current models propose that these processes are driven by turgor pressure acting on the cell wall. Using nanoimaging, we show that the cell wall contains pectin nanofilaments that possess an intrinsic expansion capacity. Additionally, we use growth models containing such structures to show that a complex plant cell shape can derive from chemically induced local and polarized expansion of the pectin nanofilaments without turgor-driven growth. Thus, the plant cell wall, outside of the cell itself, is an active participant in shaping plant cells. Extracellular matrix function may similarly guide cell shape in other kingdoms, including Animalia.

DOI: 10.1126/science.aaz5103

Source: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/367/6481/1003