Cellulose synthase complex (CSC)

The cellulose synthase complex (CSC) is a plasma membrane-integrated molecular machine responsible for the synthesis of cellulose, the primary structural component of the plant cell wall (McFarlane et al., 2014). It typically assembles into a symmetric, six-fold rosette structure composed of multiple cellulose synthase (CESA) subunits that catalyze the polymerization of UDP-glucose into long beta-1,4-glucan chains (Brabham & Debolt, 2013). The movement of these complexes within the membrane is often guided by the underlying cortical microtubule cytoskeleton, ensuring the organized deposition of cellulose fibers. As cellulose is vital for plant structural integrity and growth, the CSC is a major target for several classes of herbicides, such as isoxaben and indaziflam, which are used extensively in agriculture (Tateno et al., 2016). Inhibition of the CSC leads to a rapid loss of cell wall strength, resulting in characteristic phenotypes like root swelling and growth arrest. Beyond its role in plants, similar machinery in oomycete pathogens like Phytophthora makes it a potential target for specialized anti-infective agents (Grenville-Briggs et al., 2008).

Other names

Cellulose biosynthesis machineryCESA complexTerminal complexesCellulose synthase rosette

Inhibition of the catalytic activity of cellulose synthase subunits or disruption of the assembly, trafficking, and microtubule-guided movement of the cellulose synthase complex.