Dupree Group
Plant cells produce an extracellular matrix, the cell wall, which determines and maintains the shape of cells and serves as a protective barrier. Plant cell walls are highly complex structures composed predominantly of a diverse set of polysaccharides that vary in structure and abundance. Cellulose is the most abundant polysaccharide on Earth, followed by xylan, a hemicellulosic component of the plant cell wall. Characterisation of the different polysaccharides synthesised in plant species dates back to the early 19th century. Major advances including the identification of the cellulose synthase complex or more recently the characterisation of the xylan synthesis machinery propelled the field forward. However, many fundamental aspects of the relationship between the polysaccharide structure and its function, and the molecular function of glycosyltransferases responsible for diverse steps in polysaccharide synthesis, are still unknown.
The complex polysaccharides produced by plants, which form the largest biomass on Earth, are utilised around the globe in countless commercial and industrial processes such as the food and textile industries, production of building materials, and paper and packaging products. Over recent years, plant polysaccharides are a growing focus of scientists, funders and industry, as they provide a sustainable resource for energy and materials production.
As plant scientists, we are part of the University of Cambridge Plants@Cambridge Hub. Our aim here is to understand the complex biochemistry of the plant cell wall, which includes but is not limited to, polysaccharide biosynthesis and the interaction of polysaccharides with other cell wall components. Research in the Dupree Group involves using genetic, biochemical and microbiological techniques, in conjunction with mass spectrometry, cryo electron microscopy- and nuclear magnetic resonance. The knowledge gained through our work can be used to improve processes of utilisation of biomaterials for downstream applications.
In this context, we are part of the EPSRC funded VALUED program, which brings together scientist from diverse backgrounds such as computational science, biochemistry, material science and engineering to accelerate the development of bio-inspired materials and investigate their use for a net-zero carbon future.
We are also funded by the Novonordisk Foundation as part of the OxyMiST consortium. This research aims to understand, how availability of oxygen influences the enzymatic processes involved in cell wall degradation promoted by microbes.
