NUCLEIC ACID MOLECULES ENCODING PLANT PROTEINS IN THE C3HC4 FAMILY AND METHODS FOR THE ALTERATION OF PLANT CELLULOSE AND LIGNIN CONTENT

摘要

Polynucleotides, nucleic acid constructs, and methods are disclosed for the modification of cellulose and/or lignin content in plant tissues. Plants are genetically engineered with a gene encoding a C3HC4 protein, which leads to increased cellulose content when over-expressed in the plant vascular system. Plant transformants harboring the C3HC4 protein gene show increased content of cellulose and/or decreased lignin content, traits that are thought to improve hardwood trees for cellulose extraction during pulping and papermaking.