Host: David Ehrhardt
Stomatal guard cells develop in the epidermis of plants and surround stomatal pores that can reversibly open and close to regulate both carbon dioxide uptake for photosynthesis and water loss to drive transpiration. Guard cell physiology and signaling have been studied extensively, but little is know about how the polysaccharide-based cell walls that surround guard cells can withstand massive internal pressures while repeatedly expanding and contracting to accomplish stomatal dynamics. Using a combination of molecular genetics, high-resolution microscopy, computational image analysis, and mechanical modeling, we are investigating how the components of guard cell walls work together to form a remarkable “flexoskeleton” that is both strong and elastic. The results of these studies should help improve water use efficiency in plants, bolstering crop yields in a changing climate, and uncover new avenues toward building resilient, renewable materials for human use.