Plants are far more dynamic than they appear. Beyond growing towards sunlight, they continuously rearrange the tiny structures inside their cells to adapt to changing light conditions. These movements reveal a fascinating connection between plant biology and the physics of active matter.
We study how chloroplasts, the photosynthetic organelles inside plant cells, collectively organise themselves to capture light or avoid excessive exposure. Surprisingly, their movements resemble the behaviour of glassy materials, revealing how living systems can switch between different physical states.
Chloroplasts spread into a densely packed layer to maximise light absorption. Their collective motion slows dramatically, resembling a glass-like state with occasional bursts of movement.
The chloroplasts become more mobile and rearrange to reduce light exposure. This rapid transition resembles the melting of a glass into a more fluid-like state.
By combining microscopy, particle tracking, and mathematical modelling, we uncover how collective organisation enables cells to respond to their environment. These findings offer new insights into active materials, glass transitions, and biological self-organisation.
Research Highlights
Exploring how living cells reorganise their internal structure in response to light.
N. Schramma, C. Perugachi Israëls & M. Jalaal · PNAS
Revealing how chloroplasts form glass-like arrangements under dim light and transition towards a more mobile state when light intensity increases.
N. Schramma, G. Casas Canales & M. Jalaal · PNAS
Discovering how a single-celled organism reshapes its chloroplast network to respond to changing light, revealing a remarkable mechanism of cellular adaptation.
Discover how this research attracted attention beyond academia: Scientific American ↗ · Phys.org ↗
Research contact: Maziyar Jalaal · m.jalaal@uva.nl ↗ · Fluidlab ↗