Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
University of Ontario Institute of Technology
$26,000.00
Cellulose synthesis and regulation in plants.
FY 2016-17
Summary
The cell wall of plants is a complex and dynamic structure with many important roles in plant growth and development. It is impossible to consider a plant cell or the compendium of cells that make up a plant, if not in the context of their cell walls. Gaining a better understanding of how plants develop and grow therefore requires a knowledge of the mechanisms that control both cell wall assembly and integrity. Although the cell wall is made up of many different sugar polymers, the primary load-bearing polymer is cellulose. Despite its abundance and a number years of study, our knowledge of how cellulose is made and integrated into the growing wall is still very limited. The principle aims of my research program are to address how cellulose is synthesized and how this process is regulated. To determine the mechanisms of cellulose biosynthesis we are utilizing two model systems: a bacterium, Gluconoacetobacter xylinus, and a plant, Arabidopsis. The bacterial system has the advantage that cellulose synthase activity can be easily measured in vitro, something that has, so far, been difficult in plants. While Arabidopsis is amenable to genetic analysis, which allows us to genetically dissect cellulose biosynthesis in a plant. These two systems will be used to achieve three short-term objectives: (1) determine the structure-function relationships of cellulose synthase proteins, (2) analyze cellulose synthase complex structure and (3) identify potential cellulose synthase regulators. In combination with genetic analysis we will use modern cell biological and biochemical techniques to experimentally reach these goals. A deeper understanding of cellulose biosynthesis will provide the basis for understanding how long chain polymers are made in nature. In addition, this knowledge can be applied to creating or modifying natural polymers. Features of cellulose such as microfibril angle, which affects wood quality, the degree of polymerization (number of glucose units), and it's crystallinity are all of economic interest.
Program
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
RGPIN-2014-05078
Name nom
Bonetta, Dario
Department département
Science, Faculty of
Organization id
19222
Institution établissement
University of Ontario Institute of Technology
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2016
Competition year année de concours
2014
Award amount
26000
Program id
RGPIN
Program name en
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
Program name fr
Programme de subventions à la découverte - individuelles
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1502
Committee name en
Biological Systems and Functions
Committee name fr
Systèmes et fonctions biologiques
Area of application code
303
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Alternative energy resources
Area of application fr
Autres ressources d'énergie
Research subject code
4903
Research subject group en
Plant and treebiology
Research subject group fr
Biologie végétale et des arbres
Research subject en
Plant growth and development
Research subject fr
Croissance et développement des végétaux
Partie
3
Nb partie
5
Application title
Cellulose synthesis and regulation in plants.
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The cell wall of plants is a complex and dynamic structure with many important roles in plant growth and development. It is impossible to consider a plant cell or the compendium of cells that make up a plant, if not in the context of their cell walls. Gaining a better understanding of how plants develop and grow therefore requires a knowledge of the mechanisms that control both cell wall assembly and integrity. Although the cell wall is made up of many different sugar polymers, the primary load-bearing polymer is cellulose. Despite its abundance and a number years of study, our knowledge of how cellulose is made and integrated into the growing wall is still very limited. The principle aims of my research program are to address how cellulose is synthesized and how this process is regulated. To determine the mechanisms of cellulose biosynthesis we are utilizing two model systems: a bacterium, Gluconoacetobacter xylinus, and a plant, Arabidopsis. The bacterial system has the advantage that cellulose synthase activity can be easily measured in vitro, something that has, so far, been difficult in plants. While Arabidopsis is amenable to genetic analysis, which allows us to genetically dissect cellulose biosynthesis in a plant. These two systems will be used to achieve three short-term objectives: (1) determine the structure-function relationships of cellulose synthase proteins, (2) analyze cellulose synthase complex structure and (3) identify potential cellulose synthase regulators. In combination with genetic analysis we will use modern cell biological and biochemical techniques to experimentally reach these goals. A deeper understanding of cellulose biosynthesis will provide the basis for understanding how long chain polymers are made in nature. In addition, this knowledge can be applied to creating or modifying natural polymers. Features of cellulose such as microfibril angle, which affects wood quality, the degree of polymerization (number of glucose units), and it's crystallinity are all of economic interest.
