Ricerc@Sapienza

In order to cause a disease, pathogens need to break the plant cell wall and to this purpose they secrete degrading enzymes towards various cell wall components. Several oligosaccharides released during pathogenesis, such as the Oligogalacturonides (OGs) and Cellodextrins (CDs) upon the breakdown of the homogalacturonan and cellulose respectively, act as Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) and activate immunity.

The plant cell wall is the barrier that pathogens must overcome to cause a disease and to this purpose they secrete degrading enzymes of the various cell wall components. Due to the complexity of these components, several types of oligosaccharide fragments may be released during pathogenesis and some of these can act as Damage-Associated Molecular Pattern (DAMPs). Well-known DAMPs are the oligogalacturonides (OGs) released upon degradation of homogalacturonan and the products of the cellulose breakdown, i.e. the cellodextrins (CDs).