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 language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 252-257 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Current Opinion in Plant Biology |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 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