Cellulose synthesis: a complex complex

Marek Mutwil, Seth Debolt, Staffan Persson

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

145 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cellulose is the world's most abundant biopolymer and a key structural component of the plant cell wall. Cellulose is comprised of hydrogen-bonded β-1,4-linked glucan chains that are synthesized at the plasma membrane by large cellulose synthase (CESA) complexes. Recent advances in visualization of fluorescently labelled complexes have facilitated exploration of regulatory modes of cellulose production. For example, several herbicides, such as isoxaben and 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile that inhibit cellulose production appear to affect different aspects of synthesis. Dual-labelling of cytoskeletal components and CESAs has revealed dynamic feedback regulation between cellulose synthesis and microtubule orientation and organization. In addition, fluorescently tagged CESA2 subunits may substitute for another subunit, CESA6, which suggests both plasticity and specificity for one of the components of the CESA complex.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)252-257
Number of pages6
JournalCurrent Opinion in Plant Biology
Volume11
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2008

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to thank Daniela Geisler for useful comments on the manuscript and the Max-Planck Society for financial support (M.M. and S.P.). This manuscript is published with permission of the Director of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station as article 08-11-007 (SD).

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Plant Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cellulose synthesis: a complex complex'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this