[Plants for Life Seminar] Mechano-chemical basis of cellular and tissue level architecture in plants

Plants for Life Seminar

Title: Mechano-chemical basis of cellular and tissue level architecture in plants
Speaker: Arun Sampathkumar
Affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Golm, Germany

Abstract:
Plants cell walls are complex fiber reinforced composite material surrounding the plasma membrane. Precise synthesis of cell wall constituents, coupled with remodeling of the existing cell wall matrix, allows for the formation of complex cell and organ shapes. Cellulose, a ß-1,4-linked glucan polymer, synthesized by cellulose synthase complexes constitutes the main load-bearing structure in the plant cell wall. The cytoskeleton plays a major role in regulating deposition of cellulose microfibrils.  Cell biological approaches have over the years greatly enhanced our understanding of the interplay between cytoskeleton and aspect of cellulose deposition. The patterning of cytoskeleton, in addition to chemical signals, are also influenced by physical forces existing in plant cells and tissues, resulting in a complex feedback between external shape, biochemical synthesis and mechanics. Using advanced experimental and theoretical techniques coming from cell biology, molecular biology, materials science and biophysics, a new view of the relation between cytoskeletal dynamics and cellulose biosynthesis is established. In my talk I will provide evidence that supports the existence of a complex supra-cellular feedback loop between cell and tissue shape, cytoskeleton and cellulose synthesis.