Analysis of the function and evolution of the cellulose synthase-like C gene family using the model organism Physcomitrella patens.

摘要

he plant cell wall is an integral component of everyday life. A complete understanding of the biosynthesis of the various cell wall polysaccharides will help in areas of agricultural production, biofuel development, and other economic industries. A daunting area of plant cell wall research is to identify genes that encode proteins involved in the biosynthesis of the various cell wall polysaccharides. The structure and resilience of the cell wall makes this a challenging endeavor. Recent advances in genetics and biochemical techniques may pave the way for promising insights into the dynamics of the cell wall. The focus of this study was to test the role of the CELLULOSE SYNTHASE LIKE C (CSLC) gene family in the biosynthesis of xyloglucan, as suggested in current literature. The bryophyte model organism, Physcomitrella patens, was used as it occupies a basal level of land plant evolution, has a simple body plan, and effective homologous recombination. The approach was to produce knockout mutations of the CSLC1-3 genes and a global knockdown of all CSLCs transcripts, via RNAi technology. The knockdown constructs were designed to target homologous regions within the genome and to replace the wildtype gene with the construct via homologous recombination. Eight knockout lines representing 3 of the 7 PpCSLC genes were produced, CSLC1KO