Cracking The Code Of Anisotropic Growth

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• Henry Temple (Robinson Lab Group, Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University)
• Thursday 24 October 2024, 12:15-13:45
• Department of Plant Sciences, Large Lecture Theatre.

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Abstract Understanding how plants grow into a diverse array of shapes is critical for advancing food security and crop sustainability. The shift from slow, multidirectional growth to rapid, directional (anisotropic) growth underpins the formation of these diverse structures. This process is driven by the mechanical properties of the plant cell wall, which are regulated by its polysaccharide components and their interactions. Among these, pectin—a key polysaccharide—plays a crucial role, though the exact influence of its chemical modifications, particularly pectin methylation, on plant growth remains unclear. Our recent discovery of Golgi-localised SAM transporters (GoSAMTs), which are essential for pectin methylation, has opened new avenues to explore how pectin controls cell wall mechanics and growth. Using a multidisciplinary approach and developing unique molecular techniques, we have seen that blocking methylation, lead to important changes in the molecular architecture of the wall, disrupts the transition to anisotropic growth, even in growth-promoting conditions. These findings underscore the essential role of pectin methylation in shaping plant development. 

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This talk is part of the Department Of Plant Sciences Seminar Series series.

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• Department Of Plant Sciences Seminar Series
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