Areas of Expertise
Plant cell wall biochemistry: Post-transcriptional regulation of cell wall biosynthesis and plant cell wall self-assembly

Wall Assembly
Plant cell walls are composed of polymeric networks of cellulose, crosslinking glycans, matrix polysaccharides, structural glycoproteins, and phenolic compounds. With only a few exceptions, cell wall carbohydrate polymers are synthesized in the plant Golgi apparatus and targeted to the cell wall via the secretory pathway. Upon their delivery to the wall, these polymeric networks assembly to form the cell walls. The molecular factors that govern wall polymer assembly are not well known and are thus a current research focus in my lab. Specifically, I am investigating the repetitive, block co-polymers known as extensin (EXTs) glycoproteins for their role in directing cell wall assembly, using a combination of biochemical and biophysical studies.

Post-transcriptional Regulation of Wall Biosynthesis
Plant cell wall biosynthesis is a highly coordinated process at the gene expression level. Distinct sets of genes are activated and repressed for both primary and secondary wall biosynthesis. Transcriptional regulatory networks that govern the transition from primary to secondary cell wall biosynthesis are rather well known. However, previous research in my lab has indicated a role for cellulose synthase-derived small RNAs in the broad post-transcriptional regulation of wall biosynthesis. Unlike the transcriptional regulatory networks, post-transcriptional regulation of cell wall biosynthesis is not well understood. My lab is currently working on the identification of specific small RNAs that can affect wall biosynthesis using both small RNA next-generation sequencing (sRNA-NGS) and bioinformatic techniques.