Comparative Proteomics Indicates That Biosynthesis of Pectic Precursors Is Important for Cotton Fiber and Arabidopsis Root Hair Elongation

The study concluded that the biosynthesis of pectic precursors was crucial for the elongation of cotton fibers and Arabidopsis root hairs. Comparative proteomics identified 104 proteins in cotton ovules, with significant up-regulation of nucleotide sugar metabolism and specific accumulation of proteins involved in pectic cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis in wild-type samples. Ethylene and lignoceric acid promoted fiber elongation by modulating cell wall polymer production. Adding pectin precursors to ovule culture medium enhanced fiber growth, and Arabidopsis mutants with short root hairs were complemented by cotton cDNA or pectin precursors, underscoring the importance of pectin biosynthesis in plant cell elongation.