DYNAMO: Dynamics of Mechanochemical Signals in Plant Cell Walls

To grow, plant cells must loosen their walls, yet the same walls must remain strong enough to support the expanding tissue. Plants resolve this tension by continuously adjusting the chemical composition and mechanical properties of their walls. Genes and hormones are well-established regulators of growth; DYNAMO asks whether the wall itself also takes part in this regulation, that is, whether chemical and mechanical changes in the wall are not merely consequences of growth but signals that help to guide it. In this view, the wall operates as a communication system in which structural changes are encoded, transmitted between cells, and decoded into decisions about growth.

The project will: i) modify specific cell wall components in Arabidopsis thaliana to identify the earliest chemical and mechanical signals that follow; ii) track how these signals spread between neighbouring cells, which allows growth to be coordinated across tissues; iii) build computational models linking early wall properties to later developmental outcomes, and test these models in hybrid aspen, a fast-growing tree widely used in forestry research.

Fast growth and mechanical stability often pull in opposite directions: rapidly growing crops are prone to bending and collapse, and rapid growth in trees can reduce wood quality. Identifying cell wall features linked to growth could help breeders select crop varieties and tree lines that combine speed and strength earlier and more reliably.

This project is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation through an Emerging Investigator Grant.