Novel proteins capable of binding to bacterial cellulose synthase are provided. Proteins that co-purify with bacterial cellulose synthase and have approximate relative molecular weights of 20 kDa, 54 kDa and 59 kDa are taught. Also provided for are nucleotide sequences encoding the proteins, antibodies to the proteins, and recombinant host cells for the expression of the cellulose synthase associated (co-purifying) proteins. The cellulose synthase associated proteins (CSAPs) CSAP20 (SEQ ID NO: 1) CSAP54 (SEQ ID NO: 2), and CSAP59 (SEQ ID NO: 3) are specifically provided for.
A process of increasing plant growth and yield comprises introducing into the plant a DNA sequence encoding a product which modifies, in the plant, the level of cellulose precursors.
