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β-tubulin affects cellulose microfibril orientation in plant secondary fibre cell walls.

β-tubulin affects cellulose microfibril orientation in plant secondary fibre cell walls.

Authors :
Spokevicius, Antanas V.
Southerton, Simon G.
MacMillan, Colleen P.
Deyou Qiu
Siming Gan
Tibbits, Josquin F. G.
Moran, Gavin F.
Bossinger, Gerd
Source :
Plant Journal; Aug2007, Vol. 51 Issue 4, p717-726, 10p, 1 Color Photograph, 2 Diagrams, 1 Chart, 2 Graphs
Publication Year :
2007

Abstract

Cellulose microfibrils are the major structural component of plant secondary cell walls. Their arrangement in plant primary cell walls, and its consequent influence on cell expansion and cellular morphology, is directed by cortical microtubules; cylindrical protein filaments composed of heterodimers of α- and β-tubulin. In secondary cell walls of woody plant stems the orientation of cellulose microfibrils influences the strength and flexibility of wood, providing the physical support that has been instrumental in vascular plant colonization of the troposphere. Here we show that a Eucalyptus grandisβ-tubulin gene ( EgrTUB1) is involved in determining the orientation of cellulose microfibrils in plant secondary fibre cell walls. This finding is based on RNA expression studies in mature trees, where we identified and isolated EgrTUB1 as a candidate for association with wood-fibre formation, and on the analysis of somatically derived transgenic wood sectors in Eucalyptus. We show that cellulose microfibril angle (MFA) is correlated with EgrTUB1 expression, and that MFA was significantly altered as a consequence of stable transformation with EgrTUB1. Our findings present an important step towards the production of fibres with altered tensile strength, stiffness and elastic properties, and shed light on one of the molecular mechanisms that has enabled trees to dominate terrestrial ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
09607412
Volume :
51
Issue :
4
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Plant Journal
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
26086825
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-313X.2007.03176.x