Abstract:Cellulose, which consists of β_1,4_linked glucose chain synthesized through cellulose synthase, is the most abundant component in the cell wall. There are a number of genes encoding the cellulose synthases and cellulose synthase_like proteins, which constitute a superfamily. The catalytic mechanism of cellulose synthase is unknown now. The function of cellulose synthase_like protein is needed to be understood. This paper reviews the current achievement in the field of gene cloning and function studies of plant cellulose synthase.