Welcome to the Nielsen Lab, where we delve into the intricate world of plant cell wall biosynthesis in a model plant called Arabidopsis thaliana.
Our research focuses on understanding the cell biology underlying this essential process which is crucial for plant growth, development, and defense mechanisms.
The plant cell wall is a complex and dynamic structure composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and proteins. It plays a pivotal role in maintaining cell shape, providing structural support for plant tissues and organs, and protecting against environmental stresses.
Despite significant advances, many aspects of plant cell wall biosynthesis remain poorly understood. Specifically, the precise functions of various enzymes involved in this process are still largely unknown, and our understanding of how these enzyme activities are regulated, and how they are targeted to specific cellular sites where cell wall synthesis occurs, are still not well understood.
Our research seeks to address these gaps by using genetic, biochemical, and live cell imaging techniques to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control cell wall formation and modification.
Dynamics of Cerulean-CSLD5 and CYCB1;1 during cell division.
Time lapse movie of a dividing cell from a 5-day-old Col-0 seedling expressing Cerulean-CSLD5 (green) and GFP-CYCB1;1 (red). Seedlings were incubated for five minutes with FM6-64 (blue) to indicate cell boundaries.
Why Study Plant Cell Wall Biosynthesis?
Understanding how plant cell walls are assembled has far-reaching implications. It can lead to the development of crops with improved yield, disease resistance, and stress tolerance. Additionally, insights gained from this research can contribute to advancements in biofuel production and sustainable agriculture. By elucidating the fundamental processes of cell wall biosynthesis, we aim to pave the way for innovative applications in biotechnology and agriculture and better understand how plants efficiently synthesize and construct these elaborate bio-composite materials.
Current Research Projects
- Identify and characterize how enzymes involved in cellulose synthesis (CESA and CSLD proteins) are sorted and delivered to specific plasma membrane domains during plant growth and development.
- Investigate the roles and functions of KORRIGAN proteins, which are accessory proteins that associate and regulate the activity of cellulose synthases.
- Understand how plants sense and respond to the presence of artificial nanomaterials derived from isolated plant cell wall fractions.