Ian M. Black

Ctenophore mesoglea is composed of mucins and novel polysaccharides

This study identifies mucin-related proteins and novel sulfated polysaccharides as the main components of ctenophore mesoglea, revealing differences in ECM physiology compared to other metazoans.

Arabidopsis GALACTURONOSYLTRANSFERASE (GAUT) 1 synthesizes a homogalacturonan tightly bound to the cell wall and required for cell expansion

This paper shows GAUT1 synthesizes HG in Arabidopsis, which is tightly bound to the cell wall and essential for cell expansion.

Deep structural analysis of rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) in Arabidopsis reveals new insights into pectin diversity

The paper provides a detailed structural analysis of rhamnogalacturonan-I in Arabidopsis, revealing novel structural features including O-acetylation of rhamnose residues.

Structure and mechanism of biosynthesis of Streptococcus mutans cell wall polysaccharide

This study identifies the structure and biosynthesis mechanism of Streptococcus mutans cell wall polysaccharide, revealing key modifications and their roles in bacterial morphology and biofilm formation.

Metabolic flexibility among fiber degraders supports gut microbiome stability across host diets in the American cockroach

This study shows that fiber-degrading microbes in cockroaches adjust their metabolism based on diet, using host glycans when fiber is scarce, maintaining gut microbiome stability.