| Project Detail |
Structural coloration in plants, achieved through the arrangement of cellulose microfibrils into helicoidal architectures within the cell wall, is a widespread strategy observed in various plant species, including ferns, monocots, and eudicots. Despite its prevalence, the underlying mechanisms responsible for these hierarchical structures in plant cell walls remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, this proposal focuses on unraveling the intricate interactions between cellulose and hemicellulStructural coloration in plants, achieved through the arrangement of cellulose microfibrils into helicoidal architectures within the cell wall, is a widespread strategy observed in various plant species, including ferns, monocots, and eudicots. Despite its prevalence, the underlying mechanisms responsible for these hierarchical structures in plant cell walls remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, this proposal focuses on unraveling the intricate interactions between cellulose and hemicelluloses, the key constituents of plant cell walls, using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The primary objective of this research is to investigate how the chemical composition of hemicelluloses influences the formation of helicoidal structures in cellulose nanofibrils within plant cell walls and, subsequently, the resulting structural coloration. Combining MD simulation results with experimental data will provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of hemicelluloses on the helicoidal architecture of cellulose nanofibrils. Beyond its immediate scope, this study offers insights into the biosynthesis of cellulose and hemicelluloses in plant cell walls, shedding light on fundamental processes in plant biology. By elucidating the molecular dynamics underlying these interactions, this research contributes to our broader understanding of structural coloration strategies in the plant kingdom and offers potential applications in bio-inspired materials science. |
