Cellulose Synthesis and Its Regulation

Abstract

Cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer synthesized on land, is made of linear chains of β (1-4) linked D-glucose. As a major structural component of the cell wall, cellulose is important not only for industrial use but also for plant growth and development. Cellulose microfibrils are tethered by other cell wall polysaccharides such as hemicellulose, pectin, and lignin. In higher plants, cellulose is synthesized by plasma membrane-localized rosette cellulose synthase complexes. Despite the recent advances using a combination of molecular genetics, live cell imaging, and spectroscopic tools, many aspects of the cellulose synthesis remain a mystery. In this chapter, we highlight recent research progress towards understanding the mechanism of cellulose synthesis in Arabidopsis.

A Gibberellin-Mediated DELLA-NAC Signaling Cascade Regulates Cellulose Synthesis in Rice

“…Moreover, cellulosic biofuel is a type of sustainable energy source that has gained popular support due to its potential benefit to the global environment. In the future, the economical use of this biofuel will depend on whether we can manipulate cellulose biosynthesis (Li et al, 2014). This study showed that cell wall residues from TF-overexpressing plants exhibited increased cellulose content and improved saccharification efficiency (Supplemental Figure 8D), suggesting the intriguing value of this regulatory pathway in biomass production.…”

“…Therefore, in land plants, cellulose, synthesized by cellulose synthases (CESAs) at the plasma membrane, has diverse physicochemical properties. CESA-related synthesis is tightly regulated (Somerville, 2006;Li et al, 2014). Multiple lines of genetic evidence have illustrated that different sets of CESAs form complexes required for primary and secondary wall cellulose production (Desprez et al, 2002;Doblin et al, 2002;Gardiner et al, 2003;Taylor et al, 2003).…”

CELLULOSE SYNTHASE INTERACTIVE1 Is Required for Fast Recycling of Cellulose Synthase Complexes to the Plasma Membrane in Arabidopsis

“…The recycling of cellulose synthase has been proposed to be a potential function of SmaCCs/MASCs (Crowell et al, 2009;Gutierrez et al, 2009;Bashline et al, 2014a;Li et al, 2014). In etiolated Arabidopsis hypocotyls, SmaCCs/MASCs were observed at very low frequency in expanding cells.…”

“…Nascent cellulose microfibrils are extruded from the CSCs into the apoplast, where they are incorporated into the cell wall and serve a major loading-bearing role (Somerville, 2006;Li et al, 2014). CSCs are presumed to only synthesize cellulose when they are localized to the PM, where the force of cellulose polymerization drives the motility of CSCs laterally through the plane of the PM.…”

Identification of MEDIATOR16 as the Arabidopsis COBRA suppressor MONGOOSE1

“…Unlike other cell wall polymers, cellulose is synthesized at the plasma membrane by the cellulose synthase complex, which synthesizes multiple β-1,4 glucan chains that hydrogen-bond to form cellulose fibrils (2)(3)(4)(5). The proposed catalytic components of the cellulose synthase complex in higher plants are the CESA proteins.…”