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Finding the iron sensing protein in crop plants

Objective

Iron (Fe) is needed for all living organisms but in high concentrations within the cell it is toxic, therefore balancing the physiological level of iron is essential. Although the Fe sensing mechanism has been described for a wide variety of living forms, from bacteria to mammals, no clear information about how plants sense Fe is available. Whether or not Fe is sensed in roots or in shoots or in both, the chemical form of the Fe or the identity of the sensing protein, remains unknown. In yeast and mammals, Fe is sensed via Fe-S proteins, but in plants the Fe sensing mechanism has been shown to be independent from Fe-S cluster assembly in the mitochondria or cytosol. Using comparative transcriptomics in two model plant species I have identified a small family of genes (IRS1, IRS2 and BTS) that are good candidates for the plant Fe sensors. I would like to investigate if their putative Fe binding motifs, haemerythrin and rubredoxin, are functional in an Fe-sensing capacity. Moreover, I will investigate if the proteins have ubiquitination activity as predicted, and tissue-specific expression compatible with a double sensing mechanism in roots and leaves. Other possibilities for the Fe-sensing mechanism will be explored by using mutants defective in Fe-S assembly in the plastids, and unknown candidates will be uncovered with an unbiased mutant screening. Perturbing the Fe sensing mechanism in a tissue-specific manner would be a smart way of increasing the Fe content without causing toxicity symptoms in the rest of the plant.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

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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.

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.

MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2014

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 183 454,80
Address
EARLHAM ROAD
NR4 7TJ NORWICH
United Kingdom

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Region
East of England East Anglia Norwich and East Norfolk
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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.

€ 183 454,80
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