About this Research Topic
Secondary cell walls (SCWs) are the main constituent of plant biomass. SCWs are synthesized in specific cells such as tracheary elements and fibers. These SCWs not only provide mechanical support to the plant body and enable long-distance water transport from root to leaves, but also protect plants from biotic and abiotic stress. These SCWs are also a source of renewable biomass used for biofuels and bioproducts. However, SCWs also occur in a range of other cell types including where they perform different roles. SCWs are largely composed of cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose, the synthesis of which is regulated by various biological activities including transcriptional regulation, protein phosphorylation, and enzyme polymerization. Understanding the regulation of SCW biosynthesis is fundamental to understanding plant development and adaptation. Given the biological and economic importance of SCWs, further research is also necessary to produce plants with diverse optimized secondary wall composition that can be used for biofuel, pulp and paper, and forage industries.
This Research Topic explores the current knowledge and novel research trends regarding the development of SCWs and their biosynthesis. Recent studies show that the enzyme activities and gene expression of SCW biosynthesis enzymes are orchestrated by epigenetic, posttranscriptional, and post-translational regulation. Furthermore, studies show that the regulation of SCW biosynthesis can coordinate with hormonal pathways controlling primary growth and responses to environmental stimuli.
This topic focuses on answering the following questions:
1. How do cellulose and lignin biosynthesized enzymes form the enzyme complexes, and how do the formed complexes affect the enzyme activity of each enzyme, such as channeling?
2. How does post-translational regulation, such as phosphorylation, affect the enzyme activities of SCW biosynthetic enzymes?
3. What transcription factors control the transcription of SCW biosynthetic enzymes?
4. How does epigenetic regulation affect the expression of SCW biosynthetic enzymes?
5. How could hormonal or environmental signals orchestrate the SCW biosynthesis?
This Research Topic welcomes reviews, original research papers, technical notes, and all papers including, but not limited to, the following aspects:
• Protein interactions between SCW biosynthetic enzymes and the effect of the enzyme interactions,
• Phosphorylation and ubiquitination of SCW biosynthetic enzymes and their upstream regulators, such as transcription factors,
• Epigenetic regulation of SCW biosynthetic enzymes and their regulators,
• Hormonal and environmental control of SCW biosynthesis and remodelling,
• Transcriptional control of SCW biosynthesis,
• MicroRNA (miRNA) regulation of secondary cell wall-associated transcripts,
• The breakdown or digestion of secondary cell walls, and,
• The diversity of secondary cell walls and characterizations of novel, non-xylem related SCWs at biochemical, functional and anatomical levels.
This Research Topic explores the current knowledge and novel research trends regarding the development of SCWs and their biosynthesis. Recent studies show that the enzyme activities and gene expression of SCW biosynthesis enzymes are orchestrated by epigenetic, posttranscriptional, and post-translational regulation. Furthermore, studies show that the regulation of SCW biosynthesis can coordinate with hormonal pathways controlling primary growth and responses to environmental stimuli.
This topic focuses on answering the following questions:
1. How do cellulose and lignin biosynthesized enzymes form the enzyme complexes, and how do the formed complexes affect the enzyme activity of each enzyme, such as channeling?
2. How does post-translational regulation, such as phosphorylation, affect the enzyme activities of SCW biosynthetic enzymes?
3. What transcription factors control the transcription of SCW biosynthetic enzymes?
4. How does epigenetic regulation affect the expression of SCW biosynthetic enzymes?
5. How could hormonal or environmental signals orchestrate the SCW biosynthesis?
This Research Topic welcomes reviews, original research papers, technical notes, and all papers including, but not limited to, the following aspects:
• Protein interactions between SCW biosynthetic enzymes and the effect of the enzyme interactions,
• Phosphorylation and ubiquitination of SCW biosynthetic enzymes and their upstream regulators, such as transcription factors,
• Epigenetic regulation of SCW biosynthetic enzymes and their regulators,
• Hormonal and environmental control of SCW biosynthesis and remodelling,
• Transcriptional control of SCW biosynthesis,
• MicroRNA (miRNA) regulation of secondary cell wall-associated transcripts,
• The breakdown or digestion of secondary cell walls, and,
• The diversity of secondary cell walls and characterizations of novel, non-xylem related SCWs at biochemical, functional and anatomical levels.
Keywords: secondary cell wall, cell wall biosynthesis, plant cell structure, cell wall composition
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
