Objectif In contrast to animals, in which tissue proliferation in adult individuals is often pathological and deleterious, plants have evolved an indefinite growth habit. A remarkable but under-investigated example is the thickening of plant stems and roots: It is a purely postembryonic growth process and the group of stem cells responsible – the cambium – is derived from and embedded in fully differentiated tissues. Consequently, lateral plant growth has to integrate and overcome developmental and physical constraints imposed by participating tissues. This is especially significant in the context of the extracellular matrix, which fixes the position of plant cells relative to each other and provides mechanical support for the plant body. However, how cells sense and modulate their environment during this process is completely unknown. Here, I will leverage the unique growth mode of plants and explore the process of lateral stem growth in the reference plant Arabidopsis thaliana as a paradigm for postembryonic growth and tissue remodelling. Thereby I will address the fundamental question of how cell identities are reprogrammed in vivo and how basic cellular functions like interaction between cells and their matrix contribute to this process. To achieve this I will i) decipher the influence of the extracellular matrix on stem cell activity by cell type-specific modulation of matrix integrity; ii) decode the complex role of brassinosteroid hormones by tuning their activities during stem cell initiation; iii) record cell fate signatures by high-resolution 4-D expression maps for cambium subdomains; and iv) Identify novel signalling cascades connecting the extracellular matrix with underlying cells by forward genetics. Together my results will provide unprecedented insight into lateral stem growth – a process responsible for the accumulation of wood and a large proportion of terrestrial biomass and will reveal fundamental concepts of growth processes in adult organisms. Champ scientifique natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsmedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cellsnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryaliphatic compoundsagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesforestrynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Thème(s) ERC-CoG-2014 - ERC Consolidator Grant Appel à propositions ERC-2014-CoG Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Institution d’accueil RUPRECHT-KARLS-UNIVERSITAET HEIDELBERG Contribution nette de l'UE € 1 999 000,00 Adresse SEMINARSTRASSE 2 69117 Heidelberg Allemagne Voir sur la carte Région Baden-Württemberg Karlsruhe Heidelberg, Stadtkreis Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 1 999 000,00 Bénéficiaires (1) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution nette de l'UE Tout développer Tout réduire RUPRECHT-KARLS-UNIVERSITAET HEIDELBERG Allemagne Contribution nette de l'UE € 1 999 000,00 Adresse SEMINARSTRASSE 2 69117 Heidelberg Voir sur la carte Région Baden-Württemberg Karlsruhe Heidelberg, Stadtkreis Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 1 999 000,00