Golgi-localized STELLO proteins regulate the assembly and trafficking of cellulose synthase complexes in Arabidopsis

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Zhang, Yi
  • Nino Nikolovski
  • Mathias Sorieul
  • Tamara Vellosillo
  • Heather E. McFarlane
  • Ray Dupree
  • Kesten, Christopher
  • René Schneider
  • Carlos Driemeier
  • Rahul Lathe
  • Edwin Lampugnani
  • Xiaolan Yu
  • Alexander Ivakov
  • Monika S. Doblin
  • Jenny C. Mortimer
  • Steven P. Brown
  • Persson, Staffan
  • Paul Dupree

As the most abundant biopolymer on Earth, cellulose is a key structural component of the plant cell wall. Cellulose is produced at the plasma membrane by cellulose synthase (CesA) complexes (CSCs), which are assembled in the endomembrane system and trafficked to the plasma membrane. While several proteins that affect CesA activity have been identified, components that regulate CSC assembly and trafficking remain unknown. Here we show that STELLO1 and 2 are Golgi-localized proteins that can interact with CesAs and control cellulose quantity. In the absence of STELLO function, the spatial distribution within the Golgi, secretion and activity of the CSCs are impaired indicating a central role of the STELLO proteins in CSC assembly. Point mutations in the predicted catalytic domains of the STELLO proteins indicate that they are glycosyltransferases facing the Golgi lumen. Hence, we have uncovered proteins that regulate CSC assembly in the plant Golgi apparatus.

Original languageEnglish
Article number11656
JournalNature Communications
Volume7
ISSN2041-1723
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016
Externally publishedYes

ID: 273071979