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

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.

Bernal AJ, Jensen JK, Harholt J, Sørensen S, Moller I, Blaukopf C, Johansen B, de Lotto R, Pauly M, Scheller HV, Willats WG. (2007) Disruption of ATCSLD5 results in reduced growth, reduced xylan and homogalacturonan synthase activity and altered xylan occurrence in Arabidopsis. Plant J. Nov 20;52(5):791-802.

Rosti J, Barton CJ, Albrecht S, Dupree P, Pauly M, Findlay K, Roberts K, Seifert GJ. (2007) UDP-glucose 4 epimerase isoforms UGE2 and UGE4 cooperate in providing UDP-galactose for cell wall biosynthesis and growth of Arabidopsis thaliana, Plant Cell, May;19(5):1565-79.

Kannangara R, Branigan C, Liu Y, Penfield T, Rao V, Mouille G, Hofte H, Pauly M, Riechmann JL, Broun P. (2007) Transcription factor WIN1/SHN1 regulates cutin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana, Plant Cell, Apr;19(4):1278-94.

Krupkova E, Immerzeel P, Pauly M, Schmülling T. (2007) The tumorous shoot development2 gene of Arabidopsis encoding a putative methyltransferase is required for cell adhesion and co-ordinated plant development. Plant Journal, May;50(4):735-50.

Egelund J, Obel N, Ulvskov P, Geshi N, Pauly M, Bacic A, Peterson BL. (2007) Molecular characterization of two Arabidopsis thaliana glycosyltransferase mutants, rra1 and rra2, which have a reduced residual arabinose content in a polymer tightly associated with the cellulosic wall residue, Plant Molecular Biology, Jul;64(4):439-51.