Klaudia and Nancy Organised an Interdisciplinary Session on Cell Wall Dynamics at ICAR 2024
At the International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR) 2024, held at UC San Diego from 15–19 July, Nancy Soni (postdoc, NTNU) and Klaudia Ordyniak (PhD student, Umeå Plant Science Centre) chaired a session titled “A Systems Approach to Decipher Plant Cell Wall Dynamics.” The session brought together researchers exploring cell wall integrity (CWI), cell wall mechanics, and the signalling pathways that regulate plant growth and stress responses.
NEWSWALL2CYCLE
Cell Wall Dynamics team
7/20/20241 min read
The session featured a diverse range of speakers. Antonio Molina Fernández (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid) discussed how Leucine Rich Repeat-Malectin Receptor Kinases perceive wall glycans and trigger immune responses during pathogen infection. Talia Jacobson (University of Florida) explained the dual role of plant β-mannanases in both breaking down and building cell walls. Zhiyong Wang (Carnegie Institution for Science) examined the maintenance of cell wall integrity during brassinosteroid-induced cell expansion. Jordan Ferria (Ecole Polytechnique) focused on the role of mechanosensing in the formation of flat organs, while Megan F Detemple (Iowa State University) presented research on GAUT10’s involvement in auxin-dependent cell wall formation and root development. Sílvia Coimbra (Universidade do Porto) highlighted how the localisation and function of the protein JAGGER depend on GPI anchor addition, and Jiming Gong (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai) explored how NRT1.8 mediates cell-to-cell communication at root tips under high nitrate and heavy metal stresses.
In addition to chairing the session, Nancy and Klaudia delivered mini-talks presenting their own research. Nancy focused on the interplay between cell wall integrity and cell cycle dynamics, providing insights into how plants coordinate growth and structural stability. Klaudia offered a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms underlying cell wall dynamics and responses, drawing on recent findings from various experimental approaches. Their presentations added a personal and engaging dimension to the session, highlighting their active contributions to the field.
The session underscored the value of integrating biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, and bioinformatics to advance our understanding of plant cell wall regulation. By encouraging dialogue across disciplines, the session not only showcased innovative research but also opened avenues for future collaboration. This gathering of experts provided valuable insights into plant resilience and the development of improved biomaterials, reinforcing the importance of interdisciplinary research in addressing complex biological challenges.