Role of (1,3)(1,4)-beta-Glucan in Cell Walls: Interaction with Cellulose
Journal article, 2014

(1,3)(1,4)-beta-D-Glucan (mixed-linkage glucan or MLG), a characteristic hemicellulose in primary cell walls of grasses, was investigated to determine both its role in cell walls and its interaction with cellulose and other cell wall polysaccharides in vitro. Binding isotherms showed that MLG adsorption onto microcrystalline cellulose is slow, irreversible, and temperature-dependent. Measurements using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring showed that MLG adsorbed irreversibly onto amorphous regenerated cellulose, forming a thick hydrogel. Oligosaccharide profiling using endo-(1,3)(1,4)-beta-glucanase indicated that there was no difference in the frequency and distribution of (1,3) and (1,4) links in bound and unbound MLG. The binding of MLG to cellulose was reduced if the cellulose samples were first treated with certain cell wall polysaccharides, such as xyloglucan and glucuronoarabinoxylan. The tethering function of MLG in cell walls was tested by applying endo-(1,3)(1,4)-beta-glucanase to wall samples in a constant force extensometer. Cell wall extension was not induced, which indicates that enzyme-accessible MLG does not tether cellulose fibrils into a load-bearing network.

Author

S. N. Kiemle

Pennsylvania State University

X. Zhang

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

A. R. Esker

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Guillermo Toriz Gonzalez

University of Guadalajara

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Paul Gatenholm

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Polymer Technology

D. J. Cosgrove

Pennsylvania State University

Biomacromolecules

1525-7797 (ISSN) 1526-4602 (eISSN)

Vol. 15 5 1727-1736

Subject Categories

Textile, Rubber and Polymeric Materials

DOI

10.1021/bm5001247

More information

Latest update

8/27/2018