Volume 27, Issue 19, Pages R1069-R1071 (October 2017) Plant Biology: Rethinking Structure–Function Relationships in Guard Cells  Graham Dow  Current Biology  Volume 27, Issue 19, Pages R1069-R1071 (October 2017) DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.08.028 Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 A new model of how structural reinforcements in guard cells can enhance function. (A) The traditional view of guard cell mechanics: asymmetric thickening of the inner wall (dark green) promotes outward movement of guard cells during increases in turgor pressure, thus opening the stomatal pore. (B) The model proposed by Carter et al.: thickening of the polar regions (dark green) pins the guard cells in place and forces the outward movement of guard cells during increases in turgor pressure. In both models, radial patterning of microfibrils (thin green lines) restricts the guard cell from circumferential increases in volume and instead drives an increase in cell length, which strongly contributes to the observed movements. Current Biology 2017 27, R1069-R1071DOI: (10.1016/j.cub.2017.08.028) Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd Terms and Conditions