Our research interests are centered on the structure, function and metabolism of plant cell walls and their pivotal role in growth, development and interactions with pathogens. Additionally, cellulosic cell walls represent a central component of the biofuels industry, as well as providing the building blocks for a broad range of plant-derived products. One approach that we are taking involves the application of functional genomics and proteomics to cell wall research; identifying and characterizing novel cell wall proteins with diverse and currently unknown and unexploited functions. We are now developing a more comprehensive catalog and functional inventory of the plant cell wall proteome, or secretome, based on two principal experimental systems.
- Fruit Development and Ripening: Tomato fruit development provides an opportunity to study cell wall metabolism associated with both cell expansion and fruit softening. We can also take advantage of the expertise in tomato biology at Cornell (http://www.sgn.cornell.edu)
- Biofuels and Bioenergy Crops: The hemicellulose-cellulose matrix of grass cell walls provides a major source of carbon to the biofuel industry and demand for research in this area is increasing dramatically, given current concerns regarding energy security and global climate change. We are currently characterizing new families of wall-associated proteins and gaining a better understanding of plant wall dynamics, which is suggesting strategies to generate plants with enhanced potential as bioenergy crops.
Site Administrator:
Stephen Snyder
Site Design:
Christopher S. Carpita
Jocelyn K.C. Rose
Associate Professor
Department of Plant Biology, 331 Emerson Hall
Cornell
University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
Telephone: (+1) 607 255 4781 Fax: (+1)607 255 5407