Cellulose Fiber Formation, First Observed Real-time
Filed in archive Food and Agriculture by Creative Weblogging on April 28, 2006
"The more we understand about cellulose, the easier it will be to modify it," said Chris Somerville, director of the Carnegie department. "With this knowledge, we are one step closer to designing energy-rich biofuel crops and improved fiber crops." Cellulose fibers make up a significant portion of the dry weight of most plants. Because the fibers can be broken down into the sugar glucose, which can then be converted into ethanol and other biofuelsThis study that provides the first clear evidence for a functional connection between synthesis of the cell wall and an array of protein fibers--called microtubules--that help to shape growing plant cells from the inside. This study was published in the April 20 online issue of Science Express. Source: Carnegie Institution News Photo Credit: astrographics.com, there are huge incentives to learn more about how plants produce and modify the molecule. Cellulose is also the main constituent of cotton, paper, wood, and animal feeds such as hay.
About the author: Gloria is a chemist and blogs at Straight From The Doc and The Pharm Voice.
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