Project description
Reconstruction of the ancestral signalling pathway of the plant hormone auxin
Single hormones trigger multiple and complex, context-dependent responses that evolved from simpler, ancestral pathways. The central question is what functions were regulated by these primitive pathways. Plants hormones auxins regulate multiple processes during the life cycle, and their simple signalling system is an excellent model to study the evolution of the pathway that generates a complex response. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the REOX project will use Charophycean algae with a partial auxin response system to reconstruct the evolution that resulted in the first auxin response pathway. The study will synthetically revive the ancestral components of the pathway to recreate a functional response system in algae, revealing the ancestral function of the auxin response system.
Objective
Hormone signaling allow organisms to regulate their physiology. Single hormones trigger multiple and complex, context-dependent responses that evolved from simpler, ancestral pathways. A key, unanswered question is what functions were initially regulated by these ancestral pathways. In plants, auxins are key hormones that regulate multiple processes throughout the life-cycle. The three-components auxin signaling system is an excellent model of a simple pathway that generates a complex response, but it is unclear how this system has evolved. In the REOX project, I will use Charophycean algae that contain only a partial auxin response system, to reconstruct the evolutionary trajectory that allowed the emergence of the first auxin response pathway. I will study the structure, function and regulation of the closest algal orthologs of the plant transcriptional regulatory proteins, the ARFs. I will next synthetically revive the ancestral components of the pathway and assemble these into a functional response system in algae. With this, I expect to reveal the ancestral function of the auxin response system, and reconstruct the evolutionary trajectory towards hormone action in land plants. I expect this project to inspire similar strategies in the molecular evolution field. From a training point of view, this fellowship will build on my expertise on evolutionary genetics and molecular biology and allow me to complement these with skills in protein biochemistry and algal biology. This will prepare me for a future in studying evolution at different levels of complexity (molecular to ecological), and will boost my opportunities to reach an independent academic research position in this field. In summary, this projects aims to advance our understanding on the origin of hormone signalling and response evolution, and render a well-trained academic researcher with the capacities needed to develop a professional career within evolution research.
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 genetics
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology phycology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology molecular evolution
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
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.
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 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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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.
6708 PB Wageningen
Netherlands
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.