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Enzymology

Degradation of plant cell walls by a nematode

Nature volume 406, pages 36–37 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Interwoven networks of cellulose and pectin are the main components of plant cell walls1, making them recalcitrant structures that can only be degraded by organisms producing a mix of synergistically acting enzymes. Animals were believed to be unable to synthesize these enzymes, depending instead on symbiotic microbes to render plants into a food source. Here we describe a metazoan pectinase gene that encodes a pectate lyase for breaking down the pectin component of plant cell walls. To our knowledge, this is the first example of non-symbiotic degradation of pectin in plant cell walls by an animal.

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Figure 1: Predicted amino-acid sequence of Globodera rostochiensis PEL-1 (Genbank accession no. AF127915) aligned with bacterial (accession no.Y13340, Erwinia chrysanthemi Pel I, accession no. L32172, E. carotovora PelA) and fungal (accession no. U13050, Nectria haematococca Pel D, and accession no. U13051, N. haematococca Pel B) class III pectate lyases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Science, Laboratory of Nematology, Graduate School of Experimental Plant Science, Wageningen University, Binnenhaven 10, Wageningen, 6708 PD, The Netherlands

    Herman Popeijus, Hein Overmars, Aska Goverse, Johannes Helder, Jaap Bakker & Geert Smant

  2. Department of Plant Science Wageningen University, Laboratory of Monoclonal Antibodies Graduate School of Experimental Plant Science, Binnenhaven 10, Wageningen, 6708 PD , The Netherlands

    John Jones & Vivian Blok

  3. Nematology Department, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK

    Arjen Schots

Authors
  1. Herman Popeijus
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  2. Hein Overmars
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  3. John Jones
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  4. Vivian Blok
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  5. Aska Goverse
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  6. Johannes Helder
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  7. Arjen Schots
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  8. Jaap Bakker
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  9. Geert Smant
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Correspondence to Geert Smant.

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Popeijus, H., Overmars, H., Jones, J. et al. Degradation of plant cell walls by a nematode . Nature 406, 36–37 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35017641

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