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Title: Convergent evolution of hetero‐oligomeric cellulose synthesis complexes in mosses and seed plants
Summary

In seed plants, cellulose is synthesized by rosette‐shaped cellulose synthesis complexes (CSCs) that are obligate hetero‐oligomeric, comprising three non‐interchangeable cellulose synthase (CESA) isoforms. The mossPhyscomitrella patenshas rosetteCSCs and sevenCESAs, but its common ancestor with seed plants had rosetteCSCs and a singleCESAgene. Therefore, ifP. patensCSCs are hetero‐oligomeric, thenCSCs of this type evolved convergently in mosses and seed plants. Previous gene knockout and promoter swap experiments showed that PpCESAs from class A (PpCESA3 and PpCESA8) and class B (PpCESA6 and PpCESA7) have non‐redundant functions in secondary cell wall cellulose deposition in leaf midribs, whereas the two members of each class are redundant. Based on these observations, we proposed the hypothesis that the secondary class A and class B PpCESAs associate to form hetero‐oligomericCSCs. Here we show that transcription of secondary class APpCESAs is reduced when secondary class BPpCESAs are knocked out and vice versa, as expected for genes encoding isoforms that occupy distinct positions within the sameCSC. The class A and class B isoforms co‐accumulate in developing gametophores and co‐immunoprecipitate, suggesting that they interact to form a complexin planta. Finally, secondary PpCESAs interact with each other, whereas three of four fail to self‐interact when expressed in two different heterologous systems. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that obligate hetero‐oligomericCSCs evolved independently in mosses and seed plants and we propose the constructive neutral evolution hypothesis as a plausible explanation for convergent evolution of hetero‐oligomericCSCs.

 
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Award ID(s):
1750359
NSF-PAR ID:
10460401
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley-Blackwell
Date Published:
Journal Name:
The Plant Journal
Volume:
99
Issue:
5
ISSN:
0960-7412
Page Range / eLocation ID:
p. 862-876
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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