Expansin Gene Functionality in Plant Growth and Stress Response
Summary
Expansins constitute a superfamily of small, non-enzymatic proteins that mediate cell wall loosening by disrupting hydrogen bonds between cellulose microfibrils and matrix polysaccharides. Through this mechanism they facilitate cell expansion, underpinning pivotal processes such as stem elongation, root architecture establishment, seed germination and fruit ripening. Four subfamilies (EXPA, EXPB, EXLA and EXLB) display distinct expression patterns and diversification across plant lineages. Beyond developmental roles, expansin genes are dynamically regulated by phytohormones—particularly abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins—and respond to a spectrum of abiotic stresses including drought, salinity and low temperature. Modulation of expansin expression can thus confer enhanced resilience under adverse conditions, making these genes attractive targets for crop improvement strategies aimed at sustaining growth while mitigating stress-induced yield losses.
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Expansin Gene Functionality in Plant Growth and Stress Response publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in expansin gene functionality in plant growth and stress response across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Expansin: A plant cell-wall protein that non-enzymatically loosens polysaccharide networks to promote cell expansion.
Abiotic stress: Environmental factors such as drought, salinity, temperature extremes and metal toxicity that adversely affect plant growth.
Phytohormone: Endogenous signalling molecules (e.g., abscisic acid, gibberellin) that regulate growth, development and stress responses.
Cell wall loosening: The process by which cell-wall polymers are rendered extensible, allowing turgor-driven cell enlargement.
Subfamily (gene family): A subdivision within a larger gene family, grouping genes with greater sequence similarity and often related functions.
References
- Identification and expression analysis of expansin gene family in Salvia miltiorrhiza. Chinese Medicine (2024).
- Genome-Wide Analysis of the Expansin Gene Family in Populus and Characterization of Expression Changes in Response to Phytohormone (Abscisic Acid) and Abiotic (Low-Temperature) Stresses. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Overexpression of the Wheat Expansin Gene TaEXPA2 Improved Seed Production and Drought Tolerance in Transgenic Tobacco Plants. PLOS ONE (2016).
- Expansins: roles in plant growth and potential applications in crop improvement. Plant Cell Reports (2016).
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