Cellulose biosynthesis: A model for understanding the assembly of biopolymers

This study provides an updated review of the current status on cellulose biosynthesis. The centerpiece of this work is the presentation of a new model of cellulose biogenesis. This model and its parts are presented to better understand the mechanisms of polymerization and crystallization leading to biopolymer formation. The new information has been derived largely from sequence analysis, biochemistry and ultrastructural data relating to cellulose, Nature's most abundant macromolecule. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.