The relationship between molecular organization and mechanical properties in the leaf cell wall with a focus on infection

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The plant cell wall plays a critical role in mechanically resisting turgor, definingmorphology and as a barrier against microbial attack. However, the precisemolecular architecture of the cell wall is still poorly understood. We have recentlyshown that there is considerable variation in mechanical properties within thewalls of individual cells, between different cell types, and after microbial attack,linked to local variations in chemical composition; but the details of howchemistry and molecular organisation leads to function remain elusive. Thisproject aims to use and develop cutting edge biophysical imaging techniques, inparticular atomic force microscopy (AFM) and super-resolution (SR) opticalmicroscopy, to elucidate the molecular organization of the cell wall inunprecedented detail. Once this basis of new information has been obtained, wewill use it to explore the role played by the glucan-polymer callose in reshapingand reinforcing the cell wall following fungal attack, which in future may informthe development of novel anti-fungal agents. The project will build oninternationally leading developments in the application of AFM to cell wallsystems, and in the use of SR optical microscopy to follow cell wall growth inplants.