For the first time, researchers have visualized the unique process of cell wall construction in plant cells, fundamentally altering our understanding. Traditionally, the intricate assembly of cellulose microfibrils and polysaccharides like hemicellulose and pectin remained invisible due to the fragility of protoplasts and microscopy limitations. Previous methods used toxic fluorescent markers that compromised cell viability. With innovative techniques, scientists, led by Eric Lam and Shishir Chundawat, captured the cell wall's dynamic formation, discovering it does not align with conventional biological illustrations and shedding light on plant cell biology.
We knew the starting point and the finishing point, but had no idea what happens in between.
Cellulose is not fluorescent, so you can't see it with traditional microscopy.
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