Null-Gravity Plant Growth

The plant cell wall is a complex and dynamic structure that acclimates to diverse environments. Many environmental stresses have been well studied as a part of evolutionary history. However, spaceflight effects, which could initiate non-adaptive responses, have not been widely studied.  Previous transcriptomic and proteomic studies have shown that different levels of gene and protein expressions are involved in cell wall remodeling of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings under spaceflight conditions. Xyloglucan (XyG), which functions to crosslink and stretch adjacent cellulose microfibrils, plays an important role in cell wall structure. We are performing in-situ analysis of spaceflight effects using imaging mass spectrometry to reveal the abundance and distribution of xyloglucan-derived oligosaccharides in Arabidopsis thaliana root cell walls.