Friday Seminar – Scaling the Wall: understanding structure/function relationships in leaves across scales with Prof. Andrew Fleming, University of Sheffield

Our Friday Seminar on 26th April at 11:30am is Scaling the Wall: understanding structure/function relationships in leaves across scales with Prof. Andrew Fleming, University of Sheffield

Location: Merton Auditorium and Zoom
(No registration is required to attend in person. If you are attending via Zoom, please register: https://jic.link/FS-Fleming)

Speaker: Andrew Fleming, University of Sheffield

Bio: Andrew Fleming is Professor of Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield. Initially focussed on plant morphogenesis, Andrew’s research has broadened to integrate elements of plant development, cell biology, biochemistry and physiology, set in the context of understanding how events at the molecular and cellular level influence form and function at the tissue and organ scale of the leaf. His career has encompassed fellowships and positions at universities in the UK, the Netherlands and Switzerland, with current and recent research supported by funding from the BBSRC, Royal Society and Leverhulme Trust.

About: Plant cells are encased in a complex, dynamic composite material- the wall. Using stomatal guard cells as an experimental platform for combined molecular genetic, imaging and computational biology approaches, we are uncovering the links between the molecular composition of the wall and the emergent mechanical properties which allow these cells to undergo repeated, controlled expansion and deflation. Reflecting the core role of stomata in regulating gas flow into and out of the plant, these experiments also allow us to investigate the relationship of leaf structure and physiology linking cell-scale activities to the fundamental processes of photosynthesis and water control at the organ scale. Finally, by applying high-resolution scanning probe technologies, we are investigating the molecular spatial architecture and chemistry of the wall, with the ultimate aim of bridging mechanistic understanding of plant structure/function across scales.