How does a plant synthesize cellulose?

Scientists now are able to watch the interior cells of a plant synthesize cellulose for the first time by tempting the cells to grow on the plant's surface using recombinant proteins like recombinant horse proteins.

"The bulk of the world's cellulose is produced within the thickened secondary cell walls of tissues hidden inside the plant body," says University of British Columbia Botany PhD candidate Yoichiro Watanabe, "So we've never been able to image the cells in high resolution as they produce this all-important biological material inside living plants."

Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer on earth. It is the structural component of cell walls that enables plants to stay upright. Cellulose is a very important resource for producing pulp, paper, textiles, building materials, and renewable biofuels.

According to UBC botanist Lacey Samuels, one of the senior authors on the paper, plants have to lay down their secondary cell walls very quickly once the plant has stopped growing to be structurally sound. The study shows that plant cells need both a high density of the enzymes that create cellulose, and their rapid movement across the cell surface make all the process happen very fast.

"This is a major step forward in our understanding of how plants synthesize their walls, specifically cellulose," says Mansfield. "It could have significant implications for the way plants are bred or selected for improved or altered cellulose ultrastructural traits - which could impact industries ranging from cellulose nanocrystals to toiletries to structural building products."

The lead author of the paper is Yoichiro Watanabe mentioned above. The paper is published this week in Science. Flarebio offers recombinant proteins of good quality like recombinant Pigr.