Objective
Sexual reproduction is a key moment in many organisms’ life cycle that ensures the proper inheritance of traits and also allows adaptation. In both plants and metazoans, reproduction entails the complex coordination of gene expression between the different tissues involved. For example, intricate modifications of epigenetic landscapes occur during and around fertilzation to ensure zygotic totipotency while maintaining genome integrity. In recent years, key connections have been established between silencing small (s)RNA and reproduction with the discovery of piwi-associated small RNAs (piRNAs) in Drosophila. In the model plant Arabidopsis, a clear link exists between silencing sRNAs and the chromatin via de novo DNA methylation and Histone tail modifications, in a process referred to as RdDM. However, almost nothing is known about the involvement of sRNAs in the reproductive process. This project aims at filling this gap by studying sRNA-mediated mechanisms in tissues before and after fertilisation, i.e. in the plant germline and in the zygote. This proposal outlines a series of interdisciplinary and mutually reinforcing experiments to 1) Characterize the silencing machinery available during sexual reproduction in Arabidopsis; 2) Establish an unbiased developmental map of reproduction-associated sRNA; and 3) study the possible movement of sRNAs between and toward reproductive organs. The results are expected to shed a completely new light on plant reproduction and, more generally, might unravel novel sRNA-based regulations. The proposed project also has profound implications in agriculture as it may elucidate aspects of the poorly understood mechanisms underpinning hybrid vigour as well as intra- and inter-species compatibility. Finally, knowledge on cell biology, imaging and Arabidopsis reproduction biology implemented during the proposed project will contribute to European excellence and competitiveness in the field.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IIF
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.