Cellulose is a β-1,4 linked glucose polymer that is synthesized by higher plants, algae and even by some bacteria and animals, making it the most abundant polymer on earth. As the major load bearing structure of the plant cell wall, it is hugely important in terms of plant growth and development, and in recent years it has gained interest for its biotechnological applications. Naturally, there has been a large concerted research effort to uncover the regulatory mechanisms underpinning cellulose synthesis. During the last century, several major breakthroughs in our understanding of cellulose synthesis in algae, bacteria, and plants have been pivotal in advancing the field of cellulose research, improving the likelihood that cellulose synthesis could be feasibly adapted for sustainable purposes. In this review, we will summarize the major hypotheses and advancements made during the last century on the regulation of cellulose biosynthesis, focussing on Arabidopsis thaliana.

纤维素是一种由β-1,4连接的葡萄糖聚合物，是由高等植物，藻类甚至某些细菌和动物合成的，使其成为地球上最丰富的聚合物。作为植物细胞壁的主要承重结构，在植物生长和发育方面极为重要，近年来，它已在生物技术应用中引起了兴趣。自然地，已经进行了大规模的协同研究工作以揭示支撑纤维素合成的调节机制。在上个世纪中，我们对藻类，细菌和植物中纤维素合成的理解取得了一些重大突破，这对推进纤维素研究领域至关重要，从而提高了纤维素合成可行地用于可持续发展目的的可能性。在这篇评论中拟南芥。