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Biophys. J. BioFAST: First Published January 19, 2007. doi:10.1529/biophysj.106.099473
© 2007 by the Biophysical Society.

A more recent version of this article appeared on April 15, 2007.
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BIOPHYSICAL THEORY AND MODELING

The Cellulose Synthase Complex: a polymerization driven supramolecular motor

Fabiana Diotallevi 1* and Bela Mulder 1

1 Amolf (FOM)

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: fabiana{at}amolf.nl.

Submitted on October 12, 2006
Revised on November 12, 2006
Accepted on 13 December 2006


  Abstract
We present a biophysical model for the propulsion of the Cellulose Synthase Complex (CSC), the motile transmembrane protein complex responsible for the biosynthesis of cellulose microfibrils, the dominant architectural component of the cell walls of higher plants. Our model identifies the polymerization and the crystallization of the cellulose chains as the combined driving forces and elucidates the role of polymer flexibility and membrane elasticity as force transducers. The model is elaborated using both stochastic simulations and a simplified analytical treatment. On the basis of the model and approximate values for the relevant physical constants, we estimate the speed of the CSC to be in the range {nu}p {approx} 10-9 - 10-8 m/s, consistent with the recently reported experimental value of 5.8 x 10-9 m/s [Paredez, Somerville and Erhardt, (2006), Science, 312:1491-1495].

Key Words: Cellulose Biosynthesis, Membrane Protein Complex, Molecular Motor, Plant Cell Wall, Polymerization Ratchet






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Copyright © 2007 by the Biophysical Society.