Abstract.
Glycine-rich proteins (GRPs) have been found in the cell walls of many higher plants and form a third group of structural protein components of the wall in addition to extensins and proline-rich proteins. The primary sequences of GRPs contain more than 60% glycine. GRPs are localized mainly in the vascular tissue of the plant, and their coding genes provide an excellent system to analyze the molecular basis of vascular-specific gene expression. In French bean, the major cell wall GRP has been localized at the ultrastructural level in the modified primary cell wall of protoxylem. Immunological studies showed that it forms a major part of these highly extensible and specialized cell walls. Specific digestion of GRP1.8 from bean by collagenase suggests that it shares structural similarities with collagen. The protein is synthesized by living protoxylem cells as well as xylem parenchyma cells. After cell death, GRPs are exported from neighboring xylem parenchyma cells to the protoxylem wall, a rare example of protein transport between cells in plants. We propose that GRPs are part of a repair system of the plant during the stretching phase of protoxylem.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ringli, C., Keller, B. & Ryser, U. Glycine-rich proteins as structural components of plant cell walls. CMLS, Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 58, 1430–1441 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00000786
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00000786