The cellulose synthase superfamily in fully sequenced plants and algae

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Molecular Evolution
• Genomics

Background:

• The cellulose synthase superfamily includes cellulose synthase (CesA) and nine cellulose synthase-like (Csl) families.
• Csl families are hypothesized to synthesize hemicellulose backbones in plant cell walls.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a genome-wide phylogenetic investigation of the cellulose synthase superfamily.
• To understand the evolutionary history and relationships of Csl gene families across plants and algae.

Main Methods:

• Genome-wide analysis of 17 plant and algal genomes.
• In-depth phylogenetic analyses of cellulose synthase superfamily genes.

Main Results:

• A single-copy Csl gene in green algae is related to land plant CslA and CslC families.
• A distinct CslJ family was identified in poplar, grape, and sorghum.
• CslB/E/G/H/J families show rapid evolution and intragenomic duplications, especially in grape.

Conclusions:

• CslA and CslC families likely originated from an ancient duplication event in land plants.
• The single-copy Csl gene in green algae may function as a mannan synthase.
• Other Csl families have different evolutionary origins, with a proposed divergence model.