Abstract
A central question in plant cell development is how the cell wall determines directional cell expansion and therefore the final shape of the cell. As the major load-bearing component of the cell wall, cellulose microfibrils are laid down transversely to the axis of elongation, thus forming a spring-like structure that reinforces the cell laterally and while favoring longitudinal expansion in most growing cells. Mounting evidence suggests that cortical microtubules organize the deposition of cellulose microfibrils, but the precise molecular mechanisms linking microtubules to cellulose organization have remained unclear until the recent discovery of cellulose synthase interactive protein 1 , a linker protein between the cortical microtubules and the cellulose biosynthesizing machinery. In this review, we will focus on the intimate relationship between cellulose microfibrils and cortical microtubules, in particular, we will discuss microtubule arrangement and cell wall architecture, the linkage between cellulose synthase complexes and microtubules, and the feedback mechanisms between cell wall and microtubules.
Highlights
Microtubules were first observed in plant cells and have been characterized as essential components of the cell division apparatus (Ledbetter and Porter, 1963)
In post-mitotic plant cells, nucleation of new microtubules occurs at dispersed sites at the cell cortex, the area that is in very close proximity to the plasma membrane within the cell (Nakamura et al, 2010)
CESA1can partially rescue the phenotype of the cesa8irx1 null mutant when driven by the CESA7 promoter (Carroll et al, 2012; Li et al, 2013). These results suggest that primary cellulose synthase (CESA) may have structural properties that allow its incorporation into secondary cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs) and vice versa
Summary
Microtubules were first observed in plant cells and have been characterized as essential components of the cell division apparatus (Ledbetter and Porter, 1963). Consistent with these early observations, live cell imaging has shown that both primary and secondary CSCs accumulate in Golgi bodies and in vesicles that are close to the plasma membrane (Gardiner et al, 2003; Paredez et al, 2006; Crowell et al, 2009; Gutierrez et al, 2009).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
