Yongquan Lu

State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, College of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Plant Gene and Trait, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 1   doi: 10.5376/pgt.2024.15.0006
Received: 08 Jan., 2024    Accepted: 11 Feb., 2024    Published: 24 Feb., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Lu Y.Q., 2024, Glycosyltransferases and xylan biosynthesis in poplar: genetic regulation and implications for wood quality, Plant Gene and Trait, 15(1): 44-51 (doi: 10.5376/pgt.2024.15.0006)

Glycosyltransferases play a crucial role in the biosynthesis of xylan, a major hemicellulose component in the secondary cell walls of dicot wood, including poplar. This systematic review explores the genetic regulation of glycosyltransferases and their implications for wood quality in Populus species. Xylan biosynthesis involves multiple glycosyltransferase families, including GT8, GT43, and GT47, which are essential for the structural integrity and mechanical properties of wood. Down-regulation of GT8D genes in Populus trichocarpa results in reduced xylan content and mechanical strength, highlighting the importance of these genes in wood formation. Similarly, GT47C has been shown to be functionally conserved with Arabidopsis Fragile fiber8, playing a significant role in xylan synthesis during wood formation. The GT43 family in poplar, comprising members such as PtrGT43A, PtrGT43B, and PtrGT43C, is involved in the biosynthesis of xylan backbones, with distinct functional roles analogous to Arabidopsis IRX9 and IRX14. Additionally, GT8E and GT8F glycosyltransferases are implicated in glucuronoxylan biosynthesis, further emphasizing the diverse roles of glycosyltransferases in wood development. The molecular characterization of PoGT8D and PoGT43B supports their involvement in glucuronoxylan biosynthesis, with PoGT43B acting as a functional ortholog of IRX9. The presence of regular glycosidic motifs in xylan modulates its molecular flexibility and interactions with cellulose, contributing to the structural integrity of secondary cell walls This review underscores the critical roles of glycosyltransferases in xylan biosynthesis and their broader implications for wood quality, providing insights into the genetic regulation of these enzymes and their potential applications in improving wood properties for industrial uses.

Glycosyltransferases; Xylan biosynthesis; Poplar; Wood quality; Genetic regulation; Hemicellulose; Secondary cell walls; Glucuronoxylan; Mechanical strength; Cellulose interactions