Pavement cells

Pavement cells are a cell type found in the outmost epidermal layer of plants. They are simple cells with no specialized function. Together, the main purpose of these cells is to form a protective layer for the more specialized cells below.[1] This layer helps decrease water loss, maintain an internal temperature, keep the inner cells in place, and resist the intrusion of any outside material.[2] They also separate stomata apart from each other as stomata have at least one pavement cell between each other.[3]

They do not have a regular shape. Rather, their irregular shapes help them to interlock with each other like puzzle pieces to form a sturdy layer.[4] This irregular shape that each individual cell takes on can be influenced by the cytoskeleton and specific proteins.[5] As the leaf grows, the pavement cells will also grow, divide, and synthesize new vacuoles, plasma membrane parts, and cell wall components. A thick external cell wall influences the direction of growth by impeding expansion towards the outside of the cell and instead promote expansion parallel to the epidermis layer.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Glover, B. J. (2000). "Differentiation in plant epidermal cells". Journal of Experimental Botany. 51: 497–505. doi:10.1093/jexbot/51.344.497.
  2. ↑ Qian, P.; Hou, S.; Guo, G. (2009). "Molecular mechanisms controlling pavement cell shape in Arabidopsis leaves". Plant Cell Reports. 28 (8): 1147–1157. doi:10.1007/s00299-009-0729-8.
  3. ↑ Bird, S. M.; Gray, J. E. (2003). "Signals from the cuticle affect epidermal cell differentiation". New Phytologist. 157 (1): 9–27. doi:10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00543.x.
  4. ↑ Glover, B. J. (2000). "Differentiation in plant epidermal cells". Journal of Experimental Botany. 51: 497–505. doi:10.1093/jexbot/51.344.497.
  5. ↑ Qian, P.; Hou, S.; Guo, G. (2009). "Molecular mechanisms controlling pavement cell shape in Arabidopsis leaves". Plant Cell Reports. 28 (8): 1147–1157. doi:10.1007/s00299-009-0729-8.
  6. ↑ Zhang, C.; Halsey, L. E.; Szymanski, D. B. (2011). "The development and geometry of shape change in Arabidopsis thaliana cotyledon pavement cells". BioMed Central Plant Biology (11): 27.
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