Laureate Research Grant 2019

Carbon dioxide is fixed via photosynthesis, which is used to build most of the macromolecules in plant cells. However, photosynthesis occurs during the day as it uses sun light as energy source and much of the fixed carbon is therefore stored as starch to be used during the night to drive metabolic processes. Plant cell walls constitute a major sink for the fixed carbon and the interplay between starch synthesis-breakdown and the production of cell walls is therefore key to understand how a plant allocates its resources to drive growth and development. However, we have scant knowledge of how the plant makes the decision to use the carbon or to store it. In this project, we are interested in identifying factors that drive allocation of carbon in plant cells. By identifying such factors we may be able to change the carbohydrate content in for example grains with significant health benefits.