Markus Pauly
Research Interests
Biosynthesis, structure, and function of Plant Cell Walls
Higher plant cells are encased in cell walls that define their shape and contribute to the strength and structural integrity not only of individual cells, but also of the entire plant. Despite its necessary rigidity, the cell wall is a highly dynamic entity that is metabolically active and plays crucial roles in diverse cell activities such as growth, differentiation, cell-to-cell communication and transport, senescence, abscission, and plant-pathogen interactions. The wall can be described as a liquid crystal (Fig. 1):
Microcrystalline cellulose is embedded in a hydrated matrix consisting of coextensive networks of complex heteropolysaccharides and sometimes glycoproteins. Cell walls also constitute renewable resources and are often present in by-products of industrial production, such as pulps. Genetic engineering of crop plant cell walls can identify biopolymers with novel functional properties, as well as simplify their extraction, thus increasing the value of these "waste-products." Cell walls will become more important in the future, as they are an abundant resource that can contribute to our biofuel needs.
Our research entails the establishment of an analytical platform for the analysis of wall polysaccharides, a forward genetic approach to identify novel wall mutants, a reverse genetic approach to gain insights into wall biosynthesis, and a chemical genetic approach using hydrolases to identify wall signaling mutants.
Training areas:
Glycobiology, carbohydrate chemistry, Arabidopsis/tomato molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry. MORE
Recent Publications
Abasolo W, Eder M, Yamauchi K, Obel N, Reinecke A, Neumetzler L, Dunlop JW, Mouille G, Pauly M, Höfte H, Burgert I. Pectin May Hinder the Unfolding of Xyloglucan Chains during Cell Deformation: Implications of the Mechanical Performance of Arabidopsis Hypocotyls with Pectin Alterations. Mol Plant. 2009 Sep;2(5):990-9.
Obel N, Erben V, Schwarz T, Kühnel S, Fodor A, Pauly M. Microanalysis of plant cell wall polysaccharides. Mol Plant. 2009 Sep;2(5):922-32.
Li M, Xiong G, Li R, Cui J, Tang D, Zhang B, Pauly M, Cheng Z, Zhou Y. Rice Cellulose Synthase-Like D4 is essential for normal cell wall biosynthesis and plant growth. Plant J. 2009 Sep 17. [Epub ahead of print]
Gille S, Hansel U, Ziemann M, Pauly M. Identification of plant cell wall mutants by means of a forward chemical genetic approach using hydrolases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Aug 25;106(34):14699-704.
Obel N, Erben V, Schwarz T, Kuehnel S, Fodor A, Pauly M, 2009, Microanalysis of plant cell wall polysaccharides, Molecular Plant 2 (5), 922-932.
Abasolo W, Eder M, Yamauchi K, Obel N, Reinecke A, Neumetzler L, Dunlop JWC, Mouille G, Pauly M, Hoefte H, Burgert I, 2009, Pectins may hinder the unfolding of xyloglucan chains during cell elongation - implications of the mechanical performance of Arabidopsis hypocotyls with pectin alterations, Molecular Plant 2 (5), 990-999.
Wen F, Celoy RM, Nguyen T, Zeng W, Keegstra K, Immerzeel P, Pauly M, Hawes MC. (2008) Inducible expression of Pisum sativum xyloglucan fucosyltransferase in the pea root cap meristem, and effects of antisense mRNA expression on root cap cell wall structural integrity. Plant Cell Rep. Jul;27(7):1125-35.
Cavalier DM, Lerouxel O, Neumetzler L, Yamauchi K, Reinecke A, Freshour G, Zabotina OA, Hahn MG, Burgert I, Pauly M, Raikhel NV, Keegstra K. (2008) Disrupting two Arabidopsis thaliana xylosyltransferase genes results in plants deficient in xyloglucan, a major primary cell wall component. Plant Cell. Jun;20(6):1519-37.
Pauly M, Keegstra K. (2008) Cell-wall carbohydrates and their modification as a resource for biofuels. Plant J. May;54(4):559-68.
Jensen JK, Sørensen SO, Harholt J, Geshi N, Sakuragi Y, Møller I, Zandleven J, Bernal AJ, Jensen NB, Sørensen C, Pauly M, Beldman G, Willats WG, Scheller HV. (2008) Identification of a xylogalacturonan xylosyltransferase involved in pectin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell. May;20(5):1289-302.
Leboeuf E, Immerzeel P, Gibon Y, Steup M, Pauly M. (2008) High-throughput functional assessment of polysaccharide-active enzymes using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry as exemplified on plant cell wall polysaccharides. Anal Biochem. Feb 1;373(1):9-17.