Crucial Roles of Brassinosteroids in Cell Wall Composition and Structure Across Species: New Insights and Biotechnological Applications.

Brassinosteroids (BR) are steroidal phytohormones essential for plant growth, development, and stress resistance. They fulfil this role partially by modulating cell wall structure and composition through the control of gene expression involved in primary and secondary cell wall biosynthesis and metabolism. This affects the deposition of cellulose, lignin, and other components, and modifies the inner architecture of the wall, allowing it to adapt to the developmental status and environmental conditions.

Peripheral membrane proteins modulate stress tolerance by safeguarding cellulose synthases.

Controlled primary cell wall remodeling allows plant growth under stressful conditions, but how these changes are conveyed to adjust cellulose synthesis is not understood. Here, we identify the TETRATRICOPEPTIDE THIOREDOXIN-LIKE (TTL) proteins as new members of the cellulose synthase complex (CSC) and describe their unique and hitherto unknown dynamic association with the CSC under cellulose-deficient conditions. We find that TTLs are essential for maintaining cellulose synthesis under high-salinity conditions, establishing a stress-resilient cortical microtubule array, and stabilizing CSCs at the plasma membrane.