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Programme, abstracts and participants book [PDF]  Symposium group photo (click on image to enlarge) Scope There is increasing evidence that components present in the plant extracellular matrix (cell wall and cuticle) have a major role to play in the control of plant development (reviewed in, Bird & Gray (2003), Signals from the cuticle affect epidermal cell differentiation. New Phytol 157: 9-23; Brownlee (2002), Role of the extracellular matrix in cell-cell signalling: paracrine paradigms. Curr Opin Plant Biol: 5, 396-401). For example cell wall polysaccharides are known to influence early zygote development in Fucus and cell differentiation in higher plants. In addition the lipids present in epicuticular waxes are known to influence the development of guard and other epidermal cells while recent work shows the mutants carrying lesions in cutin biosynthetic genes display malformed epidermis. The primary aim of this discussion-based meeting is to bring together biochemists, physiologists, cell biologist and geneticists working on different experimental systems in order to focus on this topical issue in plant developmental biology. Symposium format The symposium will take place over two days at the Linnean Society of London, Burlington House, Piccadilly, UK. Eight invited talks will form the basis of discussion at what will be a relatively small meeting (up to 75 participants) which we hope will provide an ideal and informal atmosphere for the stimulation and exchange of ideas and the building of collaborations. Contact If you would like to receive further information relating to this meeting please get in touch with Holly Slater (New Phytologist) – h.slater@lancaster.ac.uk New Phytologist Central Office |
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Illustrations: Symposium logo by Sam Day. Confocal image of a stomatal complex in Arabidopsis, showing the actin cytoskeleton (green) and chloroplasts (red), courtesy of Xiaodong Xie and Patrick Hussey. A Fucus zygote showing asymmetric secretion of sulphated polysaccharides into the cell wall, courtesy of Colin Brownlee. Confocal image of cortical microtubules in a germinating zygote, courtesy of Colin Brownlee. GUS staining of trichomes in a 9 day old leaf, courtesy of Jo Calcutt. Electron micrograph of an Arabidopsis leaf trichome, courtesy of Julie Gray. The role of the extracellular matrix in the control of plant development is sponsored by the New Phytologist Trust. Last updated: October 15, 2005 |
