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News Release 05-022
Scaling the Plant Cell Wall
New method brings greater understanding of how plants build cell walls
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Cell walls give plants shape and protect against pathogens, dehydration and other environmental factors. They are rich sources of dietary fiber and the polysaccharide gums used in the food industry. Being able to identify enzymes that produce cell wall components brings scientists closer to developing plants that provide increased nutrition, cheaper food additives, and easily digestible animal feed.
Credit: USDA
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This cartoon depicts a generic plant cell wall, a network of structural proteins and fibrous sugar molecules called polysaccharides. The polysaccharide fraction consists of insoluble cellulose interwoven with soluble fibers of various types. Cell walls are a rich source of dietary fiber and food additives such as gum.
Credit: Nicolle Rager, NSF