Selected cell wall-associated components in plant defense responses against microbial pathogens

Abstract

In the field of plant-microbe interactions, numerous cellular components of plants are known to play a critical role in interactions with pathogens. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of these interactions is lacking. Significant advancements have been made regarding the involvement of cell wall compounds in the plants’ overall response against biotic threats, and the findings indicate that certain molecules directly or indirectly influence cell wall alterations. The plant cell wall plays a vital role in providing a dynamic response against pathogenic microorganisms. Several groups of cellular components substantially affect cell wall structure, including enzymes involved in the synthesis and degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose, enzymes related to pectin modification, cell wall-associated non-enzymatic proteins, and pathogenesis-related proteins. These components contribute to the development of effective resistance, which can be manifested, for example, as a hypersensitive response. Conversely, the same components can cause vulnerability in different pathosystems, facilitating the growth of pathogens. The present review sums up the roles of enzymatic and non-enzymatic cell wall components in the defense response to important plant pathogens.