Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Using SP1 to control plastid development and yield in cereals

Objective

Recently, the host lab found that a novel ubiquitin E3 ligase, SP1, regulates the translocon of the outer chloroplast membrane (TOC), which is responsible for importing nucleus-encoded proteins into plastids. SP1 achieves this by promoting the degradation TOC components by the cytosolic 26S proteasome. This is the first time the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) has been shown to directly regulate plastid development and function. By increasing or decreasing SP1 levels in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, multiple effects of SP1 were observed; e.g. inefficient de-etiolation leading to low survival rates and delayed leaf senescence in sp1 null mutants (Science 2012, 338:655-9). Also, sp1 mutants are significantly more sensitive to stress (unpublished). These data suggest that SP1 is important for the differentiation and interconversion of different plastid types, and all of the effects are highly correlated with plant growth and yield. Thus, discovery of SP1 strongly suggests potential applications in agriculture, such as delaying leaf senescence to produce a staygreen phenotype, or controlling amyloplast development during grain development, by modifying SP1 expression. This project will investigate the function of SP1 in cereals, and assess the potential of SP1 for manipulating plastids to improve cereal yield. I will generate transgenic plants with manipulated SP1 expression in Brachypodium distachyon (a versatile cereal model) and Oryza sativa (rice). I will study the development of plastids in the transformants, and assess the transformants for beneficial effects on yield parameters, such as starch content, seed weight, germination, de-etiolation, leaf senescence and stress resistance. At the end, I will have thoroughly assessed the potential use of SP1 for manipulating cereal traits linked to yield. A major strength of the proposal is the complementarity of my expertise with that of the host. Our unique combination of skills will ensure success of the project.

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.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Programme(s)

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.

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

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

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

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
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.

€ 195 454,80
Address
WELLINGTON SQUARE UNIVERSITY OFFICES
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom

See on map

Region
South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Oxfordshire
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
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.

€ 195 454,80
My booklet 0 0