Characterising the cellulose synthase complexes of cell walls

One of the characteristics of the plant kingdom is the presence of a structural cell wall. Cellulose is a major component in both the primary and secondary cell walls of plants. In higher plants cellulose is synthesized by so called rosette protein complexes with cellulose synthases (CESAs) as the catalytic subunits of the complex. The objective of the research presented in this thesis was to generate more in-depth knowledge in cellulose biosynthesis and to this aim better characterize and understand the cellulose synthase complex and its components by notably investigating the similarities and differences between the CESAs in the primary and secondary cellulose complex and identifying the various interacting proteins forming the complex in the plant cell wall. KORRIGAN and specific isoforms of sucrose synthase were shown to be co-localized and physically interact with the CESAs in the Cellulose Synthase Complex at the plasma membrane supporting their participation in cellulose biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.