Richard M. Brown

Brown, Richard M.
Johnson & Johnson Centennial Chair In Plant Cell Biology

E-mail: rmbrown@mail.utexas.edu

Website: http://www.botany.utexas.edu/facstaff/facpages/mbrown/

Main Office: PAI 2.34
Phone: 471-3364

Alternate Office: PAI 2.16
Phone:

Mailing Address:
The University of Texas at Austin - ICMB
1 University Station A5000
103 E. 24th St.
Austin, TX 78712-1095
Research Summary:
   Cellulose is the most abundant macromolecule on earth, yet details about its biosynthesis and structure remain unclear. We are using broad, interdisciplinary advances and tools to study cellulose and its biosynthesis. We employ many different model systems, including Arabidopsis, Sativa, Gossypium, bacteria, algae, and cyanobacteria. Our approaches involve gene cloning and sequencing, introduction of altered genes, gene expression in plants and bacteria, enzyme isolation and characterization, phylogenetic analysis, bioinformatics, x-ray and electron diffraction analysis, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and various types of light microscopy. We use immunolocalization approaches at the light and TEM levels. We are investigating the molecular structure of enzymes, structural proteins, carbon nanotubes, and cellulose using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (at 0.2 nm resolution). We have invented a new form of electronic paper made from microbial cellulose which will replace present cellulose-based products for printing (books and newspapers) (visit: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/8213/8213electronic.html). We are investigating the use of a transmission electron microscope for manipulation of single polymer chains to form new products for nanotechnology.
 
Publications:
The future prospects of microbial cellulose in biomedical applications (2007) Biomacromolecules 8, 1-12.
Polymer manipulation and nanofabrication in real time using transmission electron microscopy (2007) Biomacromolecules 8, 70-76.
Microbial cellulose--the natural power to heal wounds (2006) Biomaterials 27, 145-151.
Cellulose biosynthesis: current views and evolving concepts (2005) Ann Bot (Lond) 96, 9-21.
A putative plant homolog of the yeast B-1,3-glucan synthase subunit FKS1 from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fibers (2001) Planta 213, 223-230.
Structure-function characterization of cellulose synthase: relationship to other glycosyltransferases. (2001) Phytochemistry 57, 1135-1148..
The Synthesis of Megatubes: New Dimensions in Carbon Materials. (2001) Inorganic Chemistry. 40(12), 2751-2755..

 
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