New method for modifying cotton

“Research yields naturally glowing cotton” featured in www.just-style.com on September 20^th briefly describes a recent study that proves cotton could be grown to incorporate fluorescent and magnetic properties into its structure without genetic modification. This method would produce a stronger permanent effect here as current methods of using various dyes eventually wash out.

They base the research on the theory of using custom glucose molecules with attached functionality to be the source of the cellulose monomer and that this will covalently incorporate such features as the overmentioned fluorescence and magnetism. A follow up article in the New York Times “A Glowing Study ThatMight Have Deserved Less Glowing Reviews” describes the vagueness of the study and lack of proof and questions the actual commercial viability. Inparticular the wonder if the cells actually incorperate the new glucose of mealy take in to the cell. 

For this to work they are taking the fetal plant and prevent it from forming its own glucose molecules for development and culturing it in the presence of their custom glucose with an attached fluorescent tagged functional group. 

Cellulose it synthesized in the plasma membrane by rosette terminal complexes in two steps. First the chain initiation step where glucosyltransferase and the elongation step by cellulose synthase. subsequent polymer strands are further stabilized and strengthened by hydrogen boning between the strands. Enzymes are very selective to the shape and polarity of its substrates so I would wonder if there would be some steric hindrance that would prevent binding and or weakening the hydrogen bonds between strands. both articles do note a weaker product than natural type.


Is this method going to revolutionize the textile industry. Probably not anytime soon.