Hosted by the School of Biochemistry
Understanding the formation of patterns on living tissues is important to the field of developmental biology. A particular challenge is understanding how tissue-wide patterns can be coordinated between cells. Proposed mechanisms include factors that diffuse across the tissues, local cell-to-cell communication to align polarity and alignment of proteins and cellular components with mechanical stresses.
We were previously able to demonstrate the microtubules respond to mechanical stress in the hypocotyl of Arabidopsis by applying stress using our automated confocal micro-extensometer (ACME). We have further investigated this question using two distinct examples. The cuticular striations of Hibiscus flowers which generate an iridescent pattern and the alignment of stomata in developing Arabidopsis organs. Using ACME we are able to induce striations in Hibiscus petals by applying mechanical stress. The direction of striation formation is determined by the direction of stress, rather than being pre-patterned. The formation is rapid, suggesting that it results from the buckling of a bilayer with different mechanical properties. In the case of stomata we have investigated multiple factors to investigate their alignment and have been able to alter their orientation through various manipulations.
Sarah’s lab uses a combination of novel biophysical tools, genetic manipulation and mathematical modelling to investigate how tissue development (cell division and cell expansion) is controlled. Sarah's group have pioneered a robotic system called ACME (automated confocal micro-extensometer) to measure the mechanical properties of cells and tissues in vivo. https://www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/research/robinson-group.