Margaret A. Lynch
Lecturer
Cell Biology, Molecular Biology of Plant and Animal Cell

B.A., Biology, Williams College
Ph.D., Cell biology, University of Colorado, Boulder

Research Interests

Epicuticular waxes cover the aerial surfaces of land plants. These waxes can be composed of a mixture of alkanes, alcohols, aldehydes, very long chain fatty acids, and fatty acid esters. The exact composition varies with species, organ, developmental stage and environment. Epidermal cells synthesize wax components and transport them to the cells' exterior. Here they self-assemble into complex three-dimensional crystalline structures whose shape is determined by their biochemical composition. Together with the cuticle, epicuticular waxes protect the plant from excessive water loss, mechanical damage, UV irradiation and herbivores.

Epicuticular waxes give stems and leaves a characteristic glaucous appearance. By screening plants for leaves and/or stems that are glossy instead of glaucous, investigators have isolated mutants in several species that differ in the amount and composition of epicuticular wax. Much remains to be discovered about how these glossy mutations affect the plant's ability to withstand various environmental stresses.

With the goal of learning how wax composition and amount affects wax function and a plant's resistance to environmental stress, my undergraduate research students and I are characterizing glossy mutants of rapid-cycling Brassica. We use biochemical, cell biological, and physiological approaches.

Director of Undergraduate Research:
If you are interested in doing research in biology, please see the Biology Department's description of undergraduate research opportunities on Blackboard at http://blackboard.tufts.edu/. The courses are numbered Biology 93,94,193,194,193T and 194T.

You can contact me with any questions.

Courses

Biology 46: Cell Biology
Biology 52: Experiments in Cell Biology
Biology 185: Seminar in Plant Biotechnology
Biology 93, 94: Introduction to Research
Biology 193, 194: Independent Research
Biology 193T, 194T: Senior Honors Thesis

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