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In a significant advancement in the study of plant biology, researchers from Rutgers University-New Brunswick have successfully visualized the process of cellulose synthesis, a key component of plant cell walls, over a continuous 24-hour period using live plant cells. This innovative research could have far-reaching implications for creating sturdier plants that can enhance food production and reduce the cost of biofuels.
The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, detail a previously unseen dynamic process that holds potential for practical applications in producing plant-derived products such as improved textiles, biodegradable plastics, and novel medical supplies. Additionally, the research aims to deepen the understanding of the mechanisms underlying cell wall formation.
This groundbreaking work represents more than six years of collaboration among researchers across three different disciplines at Rutgers: the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.
“This research marks the inaugural visualization of cellulose synthesis and its self-assembly into a dense network on plant cell surfaces, a feat not achieved since Robert Hooke’s initial observations of cell walls in 1667,” remarked Sang-Hyuk Lee, an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and co-author of the study. “Our findings unveil new perspectives on how fundamental physical processes such as diffusion and self-organization contribute to the construction of intricate cellulose structures within cells.”
The research utilized advanced imaging techniques to capture video recordings of protoplasts, which are cells with their walls removed, from Arabidopsis—commonly known as a flowering plant closely related to cabbage—as they produced and organized cellulose fibers into complex patterns on their surfaces.
“The ordered patterns emerging from the chaotic arrangement of molecules were surprising when I first witnessed these video recordings,” said Lee, who is also affiliated with the Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine. “One would typically expect the production of cellulose to occur in a more systematic manner, as illustrated in traditional biology texts.”
Recognized as the most prevalent biopolymer on the planet, cellulose serves as the primary structural element of plant cell walls and is widely utilized across various industries to make products ranging from paper to clothing. It also plays roles in filtration, food products as a thickening agent, and many other applications.
“This discovery paves the way for researchers to investigate the genes responsible for cellulose biosynthesis in plants,” stated Eric Lam, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant Biology at Rutgers and a co-author on the study. “Insights from these investigations will be pivotal in developing improved plants for carbon capture, enhancing resilience to environmental challenges like drought and disease, and optimizing the production of second-generation cellulosic biofuels.”
The research represents the realization of a lifelong ambition for Shishir Chundawat, an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Rutgers and another study author.
“My fascination with plants, particularly their ability to convert sunlight into forms like cellulose that construct their cell walls, has motivated me throughout my career,” Chundawat shared. He intends to pursue innovative strategies for the production of sustainable biofuels and biochemicals from various feedstocks, including terrestrial crops and marine algae. “Reflecting on my school days when I gathered leaves of various shapes and sizes for a science report, my curiosity about plant diversity propelled me to explore biomass production and its sustainable applications for societal advancement.”
Each contributing research team at Rutgers played a pivotal role, particularly when standard microscopy techniques fell short, rendering blurry images of the cell wall synthesis process. The researchers employed a sophisticated method called total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, which allowed for detailed imaging of the cell surfaces while preserving the integrity of the cells over a prolonged observation period.
Lee, who specializes in utilizing advanced microscopy to analyze living systems, designed a custom microscope specifically for this research. Meanwhile, Chundawat’s group developed an innovative technique to tag cellulose strands with a fluorescent protein dye, enabling their visual identification during the imaging process.
Lam’s team focused on selectively removing the cell walls from Arabidopsis cells, providing a limpid environment for studying how new cell walls could be synthesized without interference from existing cellulose.
“Creating a nearly background-free environment for visualization was crucial for accurately tracking the formation of newly synthesized cellulose,” Lam explained.
Other contributors to the study include Hyun Huh, a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine; Dharanidaran Jayachandran, a doctoral candidate; Mohammad Irfan, a postdoctoral scientist in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering; and Junhong Sun, a lab technician in the Department of Plant Biology.
While animations are available for younger audiences interested in plant biology, the Rutgers study highlights that the intricacies of cellulose synthesis and cell wall formation are significantly more complex than previously understood.
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