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Saxena, I.M. and R.M. Brown, Jr., 2005. Cellulose Biosynthesis: Current views and evolving concepts. Annals of Botany 96: 9-21.
215. Abstract:
Aims: To outline the current state of knowledge and discuss the evolution of various viewpoints put forth to explain the mechanism of cellulose biosynthesis.
Scope: Understanding the mechanism of cellulose biosynthesis is one of the major
challenges in plant biology.
The simplicity in the chemical structure of cellulose belies the complexities
that are associated with the synthesis and
assembly of this polysaccharide. ,Assembly of cellulose microfibrils in most
organisms is visualized as a multi-step
process involving a number of proteins with the key protein being the cellulose
synthase catalytic sub-unit. Although
genes encoding this protein have been identified in almost all cellulose
synthesizing organisms, it has been a
challenge in general, and more specifically in vascular plants. To demonstrate
cellulose synthase activity in vilro.
The assembly of glucan chains into cellulose microfibrils of specific
dimensions, viewed as a spontaneous process,
necessitates the assembly 01 synthesizing sites unique to most groups of
organisms. The steps of polymerization
(requiring the specific arrangement and activity of the cellulose synthase
catalytic sub-units) and crystallization
(directed self-assembly of glucan chains) are certainly interlinked in the
formation of cellulose microfibrils. Mutants
affected in cellulose biosynthesis have been identified in vascular plants.
Studies on these mutants and herbicid
treated plants suggest an interesting link between the steps of polymerization
and crystallization during cellulose
biosynthesis.
Conclusions: With the identification of a large number of genes encoding cellulose synthases and cellulose synthase-like proteins in vascular plants and the supposed role of a number of other proteins in cellulose biosynthesis. a complete understanding of this process will necessitate a wider variety of research tools and approaches than was thought to be required a few years back.
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Last modified April 28, 2008
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Malcolm Brown, Jr.