Applied projects are on an equal footing with fundamental science. Much of our present research uses spectroscopic methods. We were one of the first groups to apply solid-state NMR spectroscopy to plant materials, not only to investigate polymer structures and conformations but also to probe the rigidity of individual polymers within the composite network that comprises the cell wall. We have pioneered the use of this method to measure molecular rigidity in living plant materials as well as in cell walls extracted from them. This information complements what can be obtained by electron microscopy and has allowed us to make exciting progress with the architecture of cellulose fibres.
Cellulose looks simple - just a linear polymer of glucose.
But when a number of cellulose chains aggregate into microfibrils, much more interesting things can happen. We have shown that microfibrils of cellulose from higher plants are made up from subunits just like the synthetic complexes that make them, on the cell surface. Who we are Collaborators Publications Back to Chemistry Staff Page .