title: Molecular analysis of cellulose biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.
abstract: Cellulose, an abundant, crystalline polysaccharide, is central to plant morphogenesis and to many industries. Chemical and ultrastructural analyses together with map-based cloning indicate that the RSW1 locus of Arabidopsis encodes the catalytic subunit of cellulose synthase. The cloned gene complements the rsw1 mutant whose temperature-sensitive allele is changed in one amino acid. The mutant allele causes a specific reduction in cellulose synthesis, accumulation of noncrystalline beta-1,4-glucan, disassembly of cellulose synthase, and widespread morphological abnormalities. Microfibril crystallization may require proper assembly of the RSW1 gene product into synthase complexes whereas glucan biosynthesis per se does not.
authors.affiliation: Cooperative Research Centre for Plant Science, Australian National University, Post Office Box 475, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arioli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Betzner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burn
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wittke
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Herth
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camilleri
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Höfte
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plazinski
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cork
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Glover
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Redmond
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002482:Cellulose / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003460:Crystallization; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D017343:Genes, Plant; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D005936:Glucans / Q000378:metabolism; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D005936:Glucans; D002482:Cellulose; C040088:1,4-glucan; C110227:CESA1 protein, Arabidopsis; D005964:Glucosyltransferases