Dr Sam Amsbury

My research group is dedicated to understanding the biology of plant cell walls – the complex, polysaccharide-rich structures vital for plant development, growth, and environmental adaptation. 

We explore their dynamic assembly, maintenance, and diverse functional roles. A core interest lies in deciphering the biochemical interactions between distinct wall components and how these interactions modulate critical processes such as cell expansion, signal transduction, and overall plant physiology. Through a combination of molecular genetics, biochemistry, and advanced imaging techniques, our work aims to uncover the fundamental mechanisms governing plant cell wall behaviour.

My research is broadly structured around the following interconnected themes:

Cell Wall Responses to Environmental Stress
Plant cell walls are remarkably dynamic, actively remodelling their composition in response to both biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the underlying genetic networks orchestrating these crucial changes remain largely uncharacterised. A central focus of our research utilises advanced glycomics to dissect how cell wall composition shifts under environmental pressures like drought, salinity, and temperature extremes. By integrating glycomics with genomics, we are identifying and functionally characterising novel genes that regulate stress-responsive wall remodelling. This work holds potential for informing strategies aimed at improving crop resilience and yield.

Plant-Pathogen Interactions and Cell Wall Dynamics
Cell wall remodelling plays a critical role in plant defence against pathogens. We investigate how plants reinforce and modify their cell walls to restrict pathogen entry and limit disease progression. A particular area of interest is the implication of polysaccharide remodelling in priming plant immune pathways during infection, thereby enhancing resistance to future attacks. In parallel, we study the cell wall biology of the fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici, the causal agent of Septoria tritici blotch in wheat. By understanding how Zymoseptoria modifies its own cell wall to evade plant defences or facilitate host colonisation, we aim to identify novel vulnerabilities for targeted disease control strategies.

Cell Walls as Renewable Biomass
Plant cell walls represent one of the planet's largest sources of renewable biomass. Their polysaccharide components can be efficiently deconstructed into simpler sugars, which can then be reprocessed via fermentation into a wide array of low-carbon chemicals and biomaterials. Recognising that current biomass processing methods are often inefficient and energy-intensive, our research applies classical genetic approaches alongside modern glycomic tools to identify and characterise enzymes that facilitate more efficient wall deconstruction.