Precision Tools for Cell Wall Dynamics
Our lab is advancing tools to study how cell wall dynamics influence plant development and defence:
Optogenetics: Using light-sensitive proteins and chemical biology, we achieve precise activation and deactivation of cell wall-modifying enzymes. This allows us to isolate specific cell wall perturbations and observe their downstream effects.
Brillouin Microscopy: We apply this technique to monitor real-time changes in cell wall mechanics, such as stiffness, under growth or stress conditions.
By combining these tools, we gain unprecedented insights into how mechanochemical processes regulate plant responses to external cues.
This research project is partially funded by the Kempe Foundation (Kempestiftelserna) and Umeå Plant Science Centre, which provided funding for acquiring a state-of-the-art Brillouin system. The Lawski Foundation provided seed funding for the optogenetics research.
