The fact that an opinion is widely held is no evidence that it is not absurd.
 Bertrand Russell
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Plant cells are surrounded by a complex, predominantly carbohydrate matrix known as the cell wall. The wall is a barrier against the plant cell's internal osmotic pressure as well to the outside world of predators and pathogens. There is abundant evidence that the wall matrix is also a component of the plant cell signaling machinary. Finally, plant cell walls are critical to determining cell shape and, in turn, plant architecture. Because the wall is semi-permanent, its biosynthesis is tightly controlled. We are interested in all aspects of wall biosynthesis, especially as they relate to plant growth and development.
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 Forty cellulose synthase like (CSL) genes comprising five families were identified in the Arabidopsis genome. We are currenlty working specifically on the CSLD family of proteins, which are the closest homologues to cellulose synthase.
Other members of the CSL superfamiliy have been shown to synthesize carbohydrate polymers other than cellulose (e.g. mannan and mixed linked glucans). The biochemical function of the CSLD family is not known. A mutation in the CSLD3 gene, kojak, was previously identified because it causes swelling and bursting of root hairs. We are now working on a transcription factor, propecia (PCA), which restores near normal root hair growth in the kojak mutant. Controlling root hair growth is critical for increasing biomass and drought resistance.
Wild-type roots
kojak roots