Abstract
Live cell imaging has greatly advanced our knowledge on the molecular mechanism by which cellulose is deposited. Both the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton are involved in assuring the proper distribution, organization, and dynamics of cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs). This review is an update on the most recent progress on the characterization of the composition, regulation, and trafficking of CSCs. With the newly identified cellulose synthase interactive protein 1 (CSI1) on hand, we begin to unveil the mystery of an intimate relationship between cellulose microfibrils and microtubules.
Highlights
Cellulose, in its simplest form, is composed of β-1,4-linked glucose
The microtubule–microfibril alignment hypothesis proposes that cortical microtubules, which lie beneath the plasma membrane of elongating cells, provide tracks for cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs) that convert glucose molecules into crystalline cellulose microfibrils (Green, 1962)
Perturbation of cellulose synthase (CESA) activity by either osmotic stress or cellulose synthesis inhibition resulted in prolongation of SmaCCs/MASCs-microtubule interactions, which appeared to be important for directing the plasma membrane delivery of CSCs
Summary
In its simplest form, is composed of β-1,4-linked glucose. Cellulose synthesis captures a lot of interest because cellulose is a major component of plant cell walls, and due to its potential to become one of the major resources for renewable biofuels. These differences may be due to the different composition and structure of primary and secondary CSCs. Because cellulose microfibrils in vascular plants are estimated to vary from 18 to 36 glucan chains and three isoforms of CESA (CESA4, 7, and 8) are required in the secondary wall formation, a heteromeric model of 18–36 CESA proteins is formulated to support the non-redundant roles of three CESA isoforms in cellulose synthesis of secondary cell walls (Scheible et al, 2001; Doblin et al, 2002; Taylor et al, 2003). For cellulose synthesis of primary cell wall, CSC is composed of CESA1, 3, 6, and 6-like proteins (CESA2, 5, and 9).
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