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MIF genes: key regulators of floral meristem termination at the cross talk of multihormonal pathways

Objective

Plants have the ability to form new organs according to an indeterminate growth that is ensured by pluripotent cells in organized structures called meristems. During floral induction the shoot apical meristem is converted into an inflorescence meristem, which gives rise to floral meristems (FM) leading to flower formation. This process called floral termination is under the control of the meristematic organizer gene WUSCHEL (WUS). The meristematic activity is intimately linked to hormonal signaling. However little is known about the integration of multi-hormonal signals during floral development. Recently, MIni Zinc Finger (MIF) proteins have been characterized in Arabidopsis, and shown to be involved in multiple hormonal regulations during plant development. Previously we isolated a gene named INHIBITOR OF MERISTEM ACTIVITY (IMA) as a tomato MIF ortholog. IMA was shown to regulate meristem activity by inhibiting the expression of WUSCHEL. Tomato plants overexpressing IMA exhibit a dwarf phenotype suggesting that IMA regulates negatively cell proliferation and expansion. A Two-Hybrid screen contributed to identify the COP9-signalosome subunit 5, as a strong interacting protein. The COP9-signalosome plays a conserved key role in the integration of endogenous and exogenous signals to regulate growth of eukaryotic organisms, including cancer development in human when a deregulation of this complex occurs. Our data suggest that IMA controls COP9-signalosome activity to modulate multihormonal responses during meristem development and floral termination. This project aims at understanding the molecular and genetic mechanisms by which IMA and more generally MIF proteins are involved in such regulatory pathways. In the context of fleshy fruit development, this innovative project will promote fundamental knowledge on an original model, but also will generate agronomical benefits through applications at the breeding and biotechnological level for fruit quality improvement.

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2009-RG
See other projects for this call

Coordinator

INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENT
EU contribution
€ 50 000,00
Address
147 RUE DE L'UNIVERSITE
75007 Paris
France

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Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris
Activity type
Research Organisations
Administrative Contact
Christian Chevalier (Dr.)
Links
Total cost
No data