Tunicates, cellulose biogenesis

Studies on the biogenesis of cellulose microfibrils in the tunicates have focused mainly on the tunic of ascidians. Results from studies with various species of ascidians have suggested that the epidermal cell is the most probable site for synthesis of tunic cellulose in the majority of ascidians (Millar 1951 Deck et al. 1966 Dilly 1969 Cloney and Grimm 1970 Smith 1970 Terakado 1970 Wardrop 1970 Stievenart 1971 Katow and Watanabe 1978 Torrence and Cloney 1981 Cloney and Cavey 1982 Robinson et al. 1983). However, these early studies did not show the details of the mechanism and the exact site of synthesis of cellulose in the epidermal cell of ascidians. 

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