Lin Zheng , Biying Li , Yajuan Chen , Liping Ding , Shanshan Xue , Muqing Ma , Zongyun Yan , Jianhua Wei , Hongzhi Wang
{"title":"Methylesterification of pectic homogalacturonan and the role of PME-PMEI families in poplar wood development","authors":"Lin Zheng , Biying Li , Yajuan Chen , Liping Ding , Shanshan Xue , Muqing Ma , Zongyun Yan , Jianhua Wei , Hongzhi Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.agrcom.2025.100102","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pectin is a key component of plant cell walls that impacts plant development by modulating cell adhesion and wall stiffness through methylesterification by pectin methylesterase (PME). While its role in primary cell walls is well established, its specific functions and regulatory mechanisms in secondary xylem (i.e., wood formation) remain poorly understood. This study investigated the role of pectin methylesterification in wood development. We discovered that both low- and high-methylesterified homogalacturonan (HG) are abundant in the cambium and expanding xylem regions of secondary vascular tissues. Using integrative bioinformatics approaches, we identified 75 <em>PtrPMEs</em> and 61 <em>PtrPMEIs</em> within the <em>Populus trichocarpa</em> genome, many of which are highly expressed during wood formation. Notably, several <em>PtrPMEs</em> and <em>PtrPMEIs</em> with similar expression patterns are capable of interacting, suggesting post-translational regulation of PME activity during wood formation. Specifically, the highly expressed <em>PtrPME10</em>, <em>PtrPME70</em>, <em>PtrPMEI50,</em> and <em>PtrPMEI58</em> during secondary cell wall deposition were co-expressed with genes involved in monolignol polymerization across 51 poplar tissues and organs, implying a putative role in lignin biosynthesis. Furthermore, overexpression of the <em>Populus</em> ortholog of <em>PtrPME45</em> in <em>P. davidiana × bolleana</em> led to increased demethylesterification of HG, resulting in reduced lengths and widths of vessel and fiber cells in secondary xylem. Our study uncovers specific roles of PME in wood formation and elucidates regulatory mechanisms controlling PME activity during wood development. These findings on the interplay between PME and lignin biosynthesis provide a potential strategy for genetic improvement of woody plants, with implications for forestry and bioenergy applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100065,"journal":{"name":"Agriculture Communications","volume":"3 3","pages":"Article 100102"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Agriculture Communications","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949798125000328","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Pectin is a key component of plant cell walls that impacts plant development by modulating cell adhesion and wall stiffness through methylesterification by pectin methylesterase (PME). While its role in primary cell walls is well established, its specific functions and regulatory mechanisms in secondary xylem (i.e., wood formation) remain poorly understood. This study investigated the role of pectin methylesterification in wood development. We discovered that both low- and high-methylesterified homogalacturonan (HG) are abundant in the cambium and expanding xylem regions of secondary vascular tissues. Using integrative bioinformatics approaches, we identified 75 PtrPMEs and 61 PtrPMEIs within the Populus trichocarpa genome, many of which are highly expressed during wood formation. Notably, several PtrPMEs and PtrPMEIs with similar expression patterns are capable of interacting, suggesting post-translational regulation of PME activity during wood formation. Specifically, the highly expressed PtrPME10, PtrPME70, PtrPMEI50, and PtrPMEI58 during secondary cell wall deposition were co-expressed with genes involved in monolignol polymerization across 51 poplar tissues and organs, implying a putative role in lignin biosynthesis. Furthermore, overexpression of the Populus ortholog of PtrPME45 in P. davidiana × bolleana led to increased demethylesterification of HG, resulting in reduced lengths and widths of vessel and fiber cells in secondary xylem. Our study uncovers specific roles of PME in wood formation and elucidates regulatory mechanisms controlling PME activity during wood development. These findings on the interplay between PME and lignin biosynthesis provide a potential strategy for genetic improvement of woody plants, with implications for forestry and bioenergy applications.