The proposed project brings together two complementary expertise for the development of sustainable and renewable bioenergy. Dr Samalova is an experienced researcher with exceptionally deep knowledge of the properties and functions of cell walls (CWs) that in plants constitute a high proportion of biomass and have critical functional importance. The Hejatko group in CEITEC has a long-standing research interest in exploring cytokinins (CKs) that are crucial plant hormones regulating many aspects of plant growth and development including CW. Combining the two will create a unique synergy for investigating the impact of CKs on CW formation with the possibility to modulate its quality and rate of production. Tthat has high application potential for in plant biomass processing via advanced biotechnological applications including production of valuable chemicals or prospective second-generation biofuels.

We will investigate a novel role for CKs in the regulation of CW structure and composition during CK-controlled cell differentiation in which expansins represent the direct link. We will develop a biomechanical sensing model to investigate CW properties during cell differentiation. We will use state-of-the-art techniques like Atomic Force Microscopy and Fluorescence emission-Brillouin scattering Imaging as well as innovative technologies combining artificial microRNAs with a chemically inducible system for conditional gene silencing transgene expression in the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana. Our hypothesis promises to discover fundamentally novel regulatory mechanisms controlling plant CW properties during development.

The implementation of the project supports the Biotechnology knowledge domain of the regional Smart Specialization Strategy, brings cooperation with a regional high-tech industrial partner; the Photon System Instruments, Ltd., and guarantees moving towards expanded international collaborations. The development of molecular tools for bioengineering of CW and bioenergy crops will give the fellow a clear research focus as well as provide her with the necessary experience needed for becoming an independent scientist.