Zooming in on the Assembly, Structure, and Disassembly of Plant Cell Walls at the Nanoscale
Plant Biology
Charles Anderson, Penn State University
August 28, 2023 @ 12:10 pm to 01:10 pm
108 Wartik Laboratory
University Park
Research Summary:
How plants construct strong, flexible cell walls has been a longstanding mystery in plant biology, and the use of plant cell walls for the sustainable production of food, biomaterials, and bioenergy can benefit from a deeper understanding of their construction, architecture, and degradation. We collaboratively apply advanced microscopy in combination with molecular genetics and biochemistry to dissect the dynamics of plant cell walls. This seminar will discuss the use of super-resolution microscopy to reveal new aspects of cellulose biosynthesis in living plant cells and the application of multi-modal SCATTIRSTORM microscopy to study the process of cellulose deconstruction at the single-molecule level.
About the Speaker:
Charles T. Anderson is a Professor of Biology at Penn State University. His research group uses advanced microscopy, cell biology, molecular genetics, and biochemistry to investigate the dynamics of plant cell walls with the goal of informing efforts to sustainably produce energy, food, and biomaterials from plants. He is interested in understanding how cell wall polymers such as pectins and cellulose are synthesized, modified, and degraded during plant growth and development, and the developmental consequences of these dynamics; in how physical and functional interactions between different wall components give rise to the unique structural and biomechanical characteristics of plant cell walls, cells, tissues, and organs; and in how cell wall dynamics underpin the development, function, and unique biomechanics of stomatal guard cells. His research is supported by the US Department of Energy and the US National Science Foundation. Dr. Anderson is also Associate Head of Research and Faculty Success in Biology, chairs the Sustainability Council in the Eberly College of Science, and co-directs the Center for Biorenewables at Penn State.
Contact
Ying Gu
yug13@psu.edu