Tunicates are the only animals known to synthesize cellulose. In the past, tunicate cellulose has contributed to our understanding of the physicochemical properties of cellulose, but it has rarely been addressed in a biological context. This biomaterial comprises the body of living organisms, fulfills physiological functions, and faces evolutionary constraints on structure-function relationships in natural environment. Here I review the biology of tunicates in light of their unique capacity to synthesize animal cellulose.

Using animal models to study cellulose biosynthesis

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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