Computational modeling of cellular morphogenesis and shape functionality in plants

植物细胞形态发生和形状功能的计算模型

• 批准号: 238711-2013
• 负责人: Geitmann, Anja
• 金额: $ 4.15万
• 依托单位: McGill University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=630357
• 关键词: Computational; modeling; cellular; morphogenesis; shape

Plant development and functioning are determined by the shape and differentiation of the tissues and cells composing the organism. Unlike animal cells, plant cells are surrounded by a stiff matrix, the cell wall. Consequently, cell developmental processes such as increase in cell size and change in cell shape require the mechanical deformation of this polymer wall. In turn, the mechanical properties of the cell wall determine the geometry of the differentiating cell. Much attention has been devoted to overall cell shape changes such as those occurring during the elongation of cylindrical stem or root cells. However, we have a poor understanding of the mechanical principles that govern the generation of complex cellular geometries such as those of star-shaped trichomes or jigsaw puzzle shaped leaf epidermis cells. Conventional numerical modeling methods are unable to cope with this degree of complexity and I propose to use analytic tools developed for applications in mechanical engineering, in combination with an array of quantitative experimental approaches, to model the mechanical processes that determine plant cell growth and to determine how cell shape influences cell function. This research program combines cell biological approaches with micromechanical engineering and computational modeling.As model systems we will study an extremely fast and one-dimensionally growing cell, the pollen tube, and the two-dimensionally expanding pavement cells of the leaf epidermis. We will use mechanical testing in combination with microscopic investigation to examine cellular geometry and growth behavior. We will quantify biophysical cellular parameters using cytomechanical techniques, and we will integrate these data into a theoretical model using finite element methods. This research program is highly interdisciplinary as it combines various cell biological approaches (molecular biology, high end confocal laser scanning microscopy, electron microscopy) with micromechanical engineering and computational modeling and it offers opportunities for graduate students from both disciplines: biology and mathematics/engineering.

植物的发育和功能是由组成生物体的组织和细胞的形状和分化决定的。与动物细胞不同，植物细胞被一个坚硬的基质，即细胞壁所包围。因此，细胞发育过程，如细胞大小的增加和细胞形状的变化需要这种聚合物壁的机械变形。反过来，细胞壁的机械性质决定了分化细胞的几何形状。许多注意力已经投入到整体细胞形状的变化，如发生在圆柱形干细胞或根细胞的伸长。然而，我们有一个贫穷的理解的机械原理，管理复杂的细胞几何形状的产生，如星形毛状体或拼图形状的叶表皮细胞。传统的数值建模方法是无法科普这种程度的复杂性，我建议使用分析工具开发的应用在机械工程中，结合一系列的定量实验方法，模拟机械过程，确定植物细胞生长，并确定细胞形状如何影响细胞功能。本研究计划将细胞生物学方法与微机械工程和计算建模相结合。作为模型系统，我们将研究一个非常快速和一维生长的细胞，花粉管和二维扩展的叶表皮铺面细胞。我们将使用机械测试结合显微镜调查，以检查细胞的几何形状和生长行为。我们将使用细胞力学技术量化生物物理细胞参数，并将这些数据整合到使用有限元方法的理论模型中。该研究计划是高度跨学科的，因为它结合了各种细胞生物学方法（分子生物学，高端共聚焦激光扫描显微镜，电子显微镜）与微机械工程和计算建模，它为来自两个学科的研究生提供了机会：生物学和数学/工程。