Uniform elementary fibrils in diverse plant cell walls.

Abstract in brief

• Plant cell walls are primarily made up of cellulose and a matrix of hemicelluloses and lignin, with cellulose forming microfibrils that create a dense network structure.
• This study examined the structure and crystallinity of microfibrils from wood, cotton, and ramie, revealing that despite their morphological differences, the microfibrils shared similar dimensions and crystallinity.
• The research supports the hypothesis that cellulose is synthesized by a terminal complex with 18 synthases, as the microfibrils were typically around 2-3 nm in width, with crystallite sizes of about 2 nm and a crystallinity degree of about 20%.