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Algae as tools in studying the biosynthesis of cellulose, nature’s most abundant macromolecule

  • Chapter
Cell Walls and Surfaces, Reproduction, Photosynthesis

Part of the book series: Experimental Phycology ((PHYCOLOGY,volume 1))

Abstract

The most dominant polysaccharide of the cell wall is cellulose. The universal distribution of this natural polymer among procaryotic and eucaryotic organisms attests to its ancient evolutionary history. Not only is cellulose found among photosynthetic and protistan cells, it is present in animals such as the Ascidians (Wardrop, 1970). Furthermore, levels of elevated cellulose synthesis have been suggested in humans with the disease scleroderma (Hall, et al, 1960).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 78712, USA

    R. Malcolm Brown Jr.

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  1. R. Malcolm Brown Jr.
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Pflanzenphysiologisches, Institut der Universität, Untere Karspüle 2, 3400, Göttingen, Germany

    Wolfgang Wiessner  & David G. Robinson  & 

  2. The University of Texas at Austin, 78712, Austin, TX, USA

    Richard C. Starr Ph. D.

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© 1990 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Brown, R.M. (1990). Algae as tools in studying the biosynthesis of cellulose, nature’s most abundant macromolecule. In: Wiessner, W., Robinson, D.G., Starr, R.C. (eds) Cell Walls and Surfaces, Reproduction, Photosynthesis. Experimental Phycology, vol 1. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-48652-4_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-48652-4_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-48654-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-48652-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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