Project

Discipline

gametophyte; genomic imprinting; epigenetics; maternal effects; arabidopsis; fertilization

Lead
Lay summary
Gametogenesis and the maternal control of embryogenesis have been studied extensively in animal systems at the genetic, molecular, and cellular level. These studies have yielded insight into fundamental concepts and mechanisms involved in the establishment and interpretation of positional information, cell-cell interaction, and signal transduction cascades. In contrast, our knowledge about the genetic and molecular control of these processes in plants is very limited. The simple but highly polar and specialized female gametophyte, which consists of only seven cells belonging to four cell types, make it an ideal system to study the role of positional information and signaling during development. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system, this project focuses on the elucidation of key events during sexual reproduction, namely cell specification, fertilization, and the epigenetic control of seed development with a focus on embryogenesis. We will use a combination of (quantitative) genetic, cell biological, molecular, and computational approaches. The proposed studies will yield insights into fundamental questions: How are cell types specified at the molecular level? Does non-random sister chromatid segregation play a role in differentiation? Are there similarities between distinct signaling cascades? What is the molecular basis of genomic imprinting, which occurs only in mammals and plants? While some of the investigated processes are conserved between animals and plants, others are likely specific, such that the mechanisms can be compared and contrasted to gain new insights into fundamental developmental concepts. Beyond fundamental aspects, however, the proposed studies will contribute to the elucidation of epigenetic mechanisms that transcend plant biology and play a central role in all organisms, including humans, where many diseases have an epigenetic component.

Direct link to Lay Summary

Last update: 21.02.2013

Active participation

Communication	Title	Media	Place	Year

Title	Year

Number	Title	Start	Funding scheme

Gametogenesis and the maternal control of embryogenesis have been studied extensively in animal systems at the genetic, molecular, and cellular level. These studies have yielded insight into fundamental concepts and mechanism involved in the establishment and interpretation of positional information, cell-cell interaction, and signal transduction cascades. In contrast, our knowledge about genetic and molecular control of these processes in plants is very limited. The simple but highly polar and specialized female gametophyte, which consists of only seven cells belonging to four cell types, make it an ideal system to study the role of positional information and signaling during development. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system, this proposal focuses on the elucidation of key events during sexual reproduction, namely cell specification, fertilization, and the epigenetic control of seed development with a focus on embryogenesis. We will use a combination of (quantitative) genetic, cell biological, molecular, and computational approaches. Many of the methods are established in the laboratory and rely on standard genetic and molecular biology protocols. Others need special adaptations and have been optimized for the study of the elusive and inaccessible female gametophyte. However, also novel experimental approaches will be established and adapted to our system, such as (i) methods to investigate sister chromatid segregation, (ii) network analyses of cell type-specific transcriptomes; (iii) novel cloning approaches using next generation sequencing technology, (iv) genome-wide association studies to identify modifier loci, and (v) the development of genetic and transgenic tools to investigate embryogenesis uninfluenced by the endosperm. The experiments described in this proposal will shed light on fundamental aspects of plant development, such as the role of positional information, cell-cell interactions, signal transduction, and epigenetic gene regulation in development. Thus, they span numerous fields of developmental biology and will yield novel insights into developmental control mechanisms that transcend plant biology. For example, epigenetic mechanisms play an important role in growth and development. While the role of epigenetic gene regulation in cancer and disease has only become apparent over the last years, plant researchers have studied epigenetic phenomena for decades and have contributed much to our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms.