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Science 31 March 2006:
Vol. 311. no. 5769, pp. 1940 - 1942
DOI: 10.1126/science.1122975

Reports

Cellulose Synthase-Like CslF Genes Mediate the Synthesis of Cell Wall (1,3;1,4)-ß-D-Glucans

Rachel A. Burton,1 Sarah M. Wilson,2 Maria Hrmova,1 Andrew J. Harvey,1 Neil J. Shirley,1 Anne Medhurst,2 Bruce A. Stone,3 Edward J. Newbigin,2 Antony Bacic,2 Geoffrey B. Fincher1*

A characteristic feature of grasses and commercially important cereals is the presence of (1,3;1,4)-ß-D-glucans in their cell walls. We have used comparative genomics to link a major quantitative trait locus for (1,3;1,4)-ß-D-glucan content in barley grain to a cluster of cellulose synthase–like CslF genes in rice. After insertion of rice CslF genes into Arabidopsis, we detected (1,3;1,4)-ß-D-glucan in walls of transgenic plants using specific monoclonal antibodies and enzymatic analysis. Because wild-type Arabidopsis does not contain CslF genes or have (1,3;1,4)-ß-D-glucans in its walls, these experiments provide direct, gain-of-function evidence for the participation of rice CslF genes in (1,3;1,4)-ß-D-glucan biosynthesis.

1 Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics; School of Agriculture, Food, and Wine; University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
2 Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
3 Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: geoff.fincher{at}adelaide.edu.au

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)