REVIEW: Arabinogalactan Proteins: Involvement in Plant Growth and Morphogenesis

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N. I. Rumyantseva

Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Kazan Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 30, 420111 Kazan, Russia; fax: 7(8432) 927-347; E-mail: rumyantseva@mail.knc.ru

Received November 23, 2004; Revision received March 2, 2005

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Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are highly glycosylated hydroxyproline-containing variously located proteoglycans dynamically regulated in the course of plant ontogenesis. Special functions of AGPs are still unclear, but their involvement in vegetative growth and reproduction of plants is well established. This review considers data on the structure, biosynthesis, and metabolism of AGPs. Special attention is given to involvement of AGPs in growth and morphogenesis, and possible mechanisms of their regulatory action are considered. AGPs are also compared with animal proteoglycans.

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KEY WORDS: arabinogalactan proteins, O-glycosylation, cell wall, plasmalemma, cytoskeleton, plant growth, cell differentiation, somatic and zygotic embryogenesis, heparan sulfates

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