Plant Gene and Trait 2024, Vol.15, No.1, 44-51 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 50 The genetic regulation of glycosyltransferases and their impact on xylan biosynthesis have profound implications for wood quality in poplar. The downregulation of GT43 genes not only altered xylan content but also stimulated overall growth and modified cell wall properties, such as cellulose orientation and xylem cell wall thinning. These changes can potentially enhance wood quality by improving lignocellulose saccharification efficiency, which is beneficial for biofuel production (Ratke et al., 2018). Furthermore, the role of UGT72B37 in lignin biosynthesis highlights the importance of glycosylation in regulating lignin content, which affects the mechanical properties and durability of wood (Cheng et al., 2022). The identification of glycoproteins involved in wood cell wall synthesis and modification further underscores the complexity of genetic regulation in wood formation (Biswal et al., 2015). Future research should focus on elucidating the detailed mechanisms by which glycosyltransferases and other glycoproteins regulate xylan and lignin biosynthesis. Advanced genetic tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 can be employed to create targeted mutations and study their effects on wood properties. Additionally, exploring the interactions between different glycosyltransferases and their substrates could provide deeper insights into the regulation of wood formation. The application of these findings could lead to the development of genetically modified poplar with enhanced wood quality, optimized for various industrial uses, including biofuel production and construction materials. Continued research in this field holds promise for sustainable forestry and improved utilization of wood resources. Acknowledgments The author would like to express her gratitude to Dr. Fang, the director of the Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, for reading the draft of this paper and providing valuable feedback. The author also thanks the two anonymous peer reviewers for their critical assessment and constructive suggestions on our manuscript. Funding This research was supported by the Opening Project of State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding of China (K2018205). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The author affirms that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Anders N., Wilson L., Sorieul M., Nikolovski N., and Dupree P., 2023, β-1,4-Xylan backbone synthesis in higher plants: How complex can it be? Frontiers in Plant Science, 13: 1076298. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1076298 PMid:36714768 PMCid:PMC9874913 Biswal A., Hao Z., Pattathil S., Yang X., Winkeler K., Collins C., Mohanty S., Richardson E., Gelineo-Albersheim I., Hunt K., Ryno D., Sykes R., Turner G., Ziebell A., Gjersing E., Lukowitz W., Davis M., Decker S., Hahn M., and Mohnen D., 2015, Downregulation of GAUT12 in Populus deltoides by RNA silencing results in reduced recalcitrance, increased growth and reduced xylan and pectin in a woody biofuel feedstock, Biotechnology for Biofuels, 8: 41. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-015-0218-y PMid:25802552 PMCid:PMC4369864 Cheng H., Liu J., Zhou M., and Cheng Y., 2022, Lectin affinity-based glycoproteome analysis of the developing xylem in poplar, Forestry Research, 2: 13. https://doi.org/10.48130/FR-2022-0013 Hassane H., Behr M., Guérin C., Sibout R., Mol A., Baragé M., Jaziri M., and Baucher M., 2022, A higher lignin content in ugt72b37 poplar mutants indicates a role of monolignol glycosylation in xylem lignification, Forests, 13(12): 2167. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13122167 Jiao B., Zhao X., Lu W., Guo L., and Luo K., 2019, The R2R3 MYB transcription factor MYB189 negatively regulates secondary cell wall biosynthesis in Populus, Tree Physiology, 39(7): 1187-1200. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpz040 PMid:30968143
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