The most abundant biological material on Earth is cellulose, a fibrous molecule found in all plants. Cellulose is a favored target of renewable, plant-based biofuel research. However, even if there is an existing huge interest on this material, scientists know very little about how plant cells synthesize their own individual cellulose fibers.

But there is good news in that area as recent research work from the < a href="http://www.carnegieinstitution.org/">Carnegie Institution's Department of Plant Biology and Stanford University describes the first real-time observations of cellulose fiber formation.

"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 biofuels, 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.

This 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

About the author: Gloria is a chemist and blogs at Straight From The Doc and The Pharm Voice.