Abstract
In higher plant cells, it is well known hypotheses that cortical microtubules (CMTs) regulate direction of cellulose microfibril (CMF) deposition in cell wall, and that the direction of CMFs forms and maintains cell shape, however, mechanisms how CMTs regulate CMF deposition are still unclear. Previously we identified a novel inhibitor, cobtorin, which perturbed the parallel relationship between CMTs and CMFs. In this study, we aimed to identify a target of cobtorin, and performed two approaches; biochemical affinity purification method and genetic resistant OX line screening from Arabidopsis FOX hunting lines. No cobtorin binding proteins were obtained from biochemical purification, suggesting that the target of cobtorin was not a protein, however, genetic screening identified three cobtorin resistant genes; a novel lectin family protein, polygalacturonase and pectin methylesterase, suggesting that the target of cobtorin might be pectin. We will discuss role of pectin on CMF deposition.
