In most higher plants, certain cells become specialized to accumulate calcium and precipitate crystalline calcium oxalate in their vacuoles. These cells play a crucial role in calcium regulation by removing and sequestering excess calcium. In addition, they may be important in structural reinforcement and in defense against predators. In our laboratory research we are using a variety of integrated approaches to study these specialized cells and the crystals they produce.
Plant cells make crystals of calcium oxalate in an intriguing variety of shapes.
Intertestingly, both the morphology and distribution of crystals within plants exhibit species-specific patterns, indicating that their development is genetically controlled. We are particularly interested in understanding the cellular mechanisms that control calcium oxalate crystallization. We are presently studying crystal formation in grape, which produces bundles of needle-shaped crystals called raphides. We have isolated clones for genes that may encode these proteins and are currently working on characterizing these clones and their expression products. Cell-mediated crystallization of calcium oxalate in plants.