David Domozych
Professor, Skidmore College

Research Interests: David Domozych is a plant cell biologist who studies the evolution of cell walls and their biosynthesis in plants. He is interested in the biochemistry and cell biology of cell wall components (esp. pectins) in the Charophycean Green Algae (CGA), the modern group of green algae whose ancestors are the basal stock from which land plants evolved. Dr. Domozych's primary research tools include light, confocal laser scanning and electron microscopy, various biochemical techniques and immunocytochemistry. His main subject of study is a new model organism, Penium margaritaceum, a unicellular desmid with cell polymers similar to those of higher plants. Currently, his research work is involved with answering questions like:

• What is the distribution of cell wall polymers in Charophycean Green Algae and how did particular polymers like pectins evolve?

• How do different wall polymers function in cell development? What are the interactions of wall polymers during cell expansion and division?

• How are various wall polymers processed in the plant Golgi Apparatus, packaged in specific vesicle types and released to cytoplasmic streaming mechanism?

• How do particular vesicles get to specific sites on the surface for selected release?

• What are the signal transduction moleculaes that control cell wall secretory mechanisms?

Dr. Domozych's work has recently been sponsored by grants from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Molecular and Cell Biology Program, NSF Intergrated Organismal Systems and NSF Major Instrumentation Programs. Many students participate in his research program both during the academic year and summer.