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The study of the cell wall is an important research frontier in plant biology. Over the past decade, the field has seen major technological and conceptual advances. In addition, the study of cell wall structure and metabolism has become an integral part of the research on plant development and the adaptation to abiotic and biotic stresses. A better knowledge of the cell wall is also essential for the optimization of lignocellulosic biomass processing procedures in the framework of the emerging bioeconomy.

This SPS Summer School 2022 was a one-week program for outstanding and enthusiastic PhD students and young post-docs. It provided them with an introduction in chemistry, biophysics, molecular and cell biology in relation to the plant cell wall.

This Summer School brought together 18 participants from all over the world and offered them the chance to receive scientific training in an international and rather informal atmosphere, facilitating exchanges. This course involved theoretical lectures delivered by world-class experts and hands on practical courses on state of the art technologies.

Program and speakers

Download the provisional program of the Summer School

This Summer School included:

         > Theoretical modules (12 hours):

Leading scientists held lectures on the topics of the summer school, giving the participants a comprehensive insight into the latest research findings and identifying key open questions in the field.

"Cell wall polysaccharide structures and interactions"
- Marie-Christine Ralet (Biopolymères, Interactions, Assemblages - Nantes, France)
- Aline Voxeur (Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin – Versailles, France)

"Cell wall modifying enzymes"
- Estelle Bonnin (Biopolymères, Interactions, Assemblages - Nantes, France)

"Hemicellulose-cellulose interactions through in vitro physico-chemical approaches"
- Bernard Cathala (Biopolymères, Interactions, Assemblages - Nantes, France)

"Cell wall and plant-pathogens interactions"
- Antonio Molina (Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas - Madrid, Spain)

"Using genetics to study cell walls"
- Herman Höfte (Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin – Versailles, France)

"Studying cell wall nanostructure using super resolution microscopy "
- Kalina Haas (Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin – Versailles, France)
- Alexis Peaucelle (Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin – Versailles, France)

"Studying cell expansion using of sensors and live cell imaging "
- Sebastjen Schoenaers (University of Antwerp, Belgium / Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin – Versailles, France)

"Studying cell wall structure using spectroscopic techniques "
- Laurent Heux (Centre de recherches sur les macromolécules végétales - Grenoble, France)

"Studying cell wall polymer structures using X-ray diffraction"
- Yoshiharu Nishiyama (Centre de recherches sur les macromolécules végétales - Grenoble, France)

"Studying cell wall synthesis and assembly using structural biology"
- Julia Santiago Cuellar (University of Lausanne, Switzerland)

"Cell wall micromechanics and plant development"
- Arezki Boudaoud (LadHyX, Ecole polytechnique - Palaiseau, France)

"Lignin structure, engineering and utilization "
- Wout Boerjan (VIB - Gent, Belgium)

"Cell biology of cell wall synthesis and growth"
- Staffan Persson (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

         > Practical sessions (16 hours)

Participants chose one of the 3 following topics:

1. Biomass multiscale characterization (coordinated by Matthieu Reymond, Guillaume Rivière and Stéphanie Baumberger)
Variation in biomass composition and stem histology – Case study in maize
> Histology (Microscopy and image analysis / quantification) – QUALIBIOSEC team and OV platform
> NIRS predictions – QUALIBIOSEC team
> Biomass pretreatment and hydrolysis – APSYNTH team
> Lignin characterization – APSYNTH team

2. A cytological approach to cell wall polymer architecture and mechanics (coordinated by Kalina Haas, Herman Höfte and Alexis Peaucelle)
An introduction into technologies to study the nanostructure and mechanics of plant cell walls
> Super-resolution microscopy (Kalina Haas / Alexis Peaucelle)
- Immuno-histochemistry: sample preparation for super-resolution and confocal microscopy
- Data analysis and post processing of multicolor 3D dSTORM microscopy
> Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) (Alexis Peaucelle)

3. Composition, architecture and specialized functions of cell wall polysaccharides in seeds (coordinated by Helen North and Aline Voxeur)
In situ and biochemical analysis of the composition and structure of cell wall – Case study with Brassicaceae seeds
> Histological analysis of seed mucilage (staining, confocal and polarized microscopy) (Helen North / Adeline Berger)
> Biochemical analysis of polysaccharides and oligosaccharides (GC-MS, Q-TOF) (Aline Voxeur / Samantha Vernhettes)

         > Presentations of the participants’ projects

         > Visits of SPS labs

         > Cultural excursion at the Versailles Castle

This varied program gave plenty of opportunities for discussion with speakers and the other participants.

Organizers

Herman Höfte (Coordinator)
Stéphanie Baumberger
Martine Gonneau
Kalina Haas
Helen North
Alexis Peaucelle
Matthieu Reymond
Samantha Vernhettes
Aline Voxeur

Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, Versailles

Teaching language

English

Venue

Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin
Centre INRAE Île-de-France Versailles-Grignon
Route de St-Cyr (RD 10)
78000 Versailles

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