Enhancement of growth and cellulose accumulation by overexpression of xyloglucanase in poplar.
Because the loosening of xyloglucan in the cell wall promotes plant growth (Takeda et al. (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99, 9055-9060; Park et al. (2003) Plant J. 33, 1099-1106), we expressed Aspergillus xyloglucanase constitutively in Populus alba. The expression increased the length of stem even in the presence of sucrose. Increased stem growth was accompanied by a decrease in Young's elastic modulus in the growth zone but an increased elasticity in mature tissue. The increased internode length corresponded to an increase in cellulose content as well as specific gravity, showing that the removal of xyloglucan might cause an increase in cellulose density in the secondary xylem.
Park
Yong Woo
YW
Wood Research Institute, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji 611-0011, Japan.
Baba
Kei'ichi
K
Furuta
Yuzo
Y
Iida
Ikuho
I
Sameshima
Kazuhiko
K
Arai
Motoh
M
Hayashi
Takahisa
T
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D013046:Specific Gravity; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D014197:Trees / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development*
D002482:Cellulose; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; C072818:xyloglucan endo(1-4)-beta-D-glucanase