87. Brown, Jr. R. M. 1981. Integration of
biochemical and visual approaches to the study of cellulose biosynthesis
and degradation. IN: Biosynthesis and biodegradation of wood
components. The Ekman-Days 1981 International Symposium on
Wood and Pulping Chemistry. Vol. 3, pp. 3-15.
87. Summary
The assembly of cellulose is discussed in
relation to current biochemical and cytological data. Microfibrils
are synthesized by a cell-directed self-assembly process. Probes
which interfere with crystallization but not polymerization are
described. Mechanisms of cellulose microfibril assembly and inter-microfibril
aggregation are suggested, and a new directed cell growth hypothesis
based on this current research is presented.