Visualization of cellulose synthases in Arabidopsis secondary cell walls

Science. 2015 Oct 9;350(6257):198-203. doi: 10.1126/science.aac7446.

Abstract

Cellulose biosynthesis in plant secondary cell walls forms the basis of vascular development in land plants, with xylem tissues constituting the vast majority of terrestrial biomass. We used plant lines that contained an inducible master transcription factor controlling xylem cell fate to quantitatively image fluorescently tagged cellulose synthase enzymes during cellulose deposition in living protoxylem cells. The formation of secondary cell wall thickenings was associated with a redistribution and enrichment of CESA7-containing cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs) into narrow membrane domains. The velocities of secondary cell wall-specific CSCs were faster than those of primary cell wall CSCs during abundant cellulose production. Dynamic intracellular of endomembranes, in combination with increased velocity and high density of CSCs, enables cellulose to be synthesized rapidly in secondary cell walls.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / enzymology*
  • Arabidopsis / growth & development
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / analysis*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / chemistry
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / analysis
  • Cell Wall / enzymology*
  • Cell Wall / ultrastructure
  • Cellulose / biosynthesis
  • Cellulose / metabolism
  • Fluorescence
  • Glucosyltransferases / analysis*
  • Glucosyltransferases / chemistry
  • Glucosyltransferases / metabolism
  • Golgi Apparatus / enzymology
  • Luminescent Proteins / analysis
  • Microtubules / enzymology
  • Protein Transport
  • Xylem / enzymology
  • Xylem / growth & development

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • IRX3 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • yellow fluorescent protein, Bacteria
  • Cellulose
  • Glucosyltransferases
  • cellulose synthase