Jose Julian Valenzuela

Research Focus

Our lab studies how plant cells keep their internal “recycling centers” —called vacuoles — healthy. The vacuole is a waste- and signaling-management hub that helps the cell survive when the environment gets tough. We discovered that when a plant’s cell wall is damaged, a protective system kicks in to repair and stabilize the vacuole. We are now exploring how this system works and how it helps plants cope with stress such as pathogen attack or changes in soil conditions.