Project description
Gene regulatory network of maize starchy endosperm programmed cell death
In the grain, most nutrients are stored in a highly specialised reserve tissue called the starchy endosperm (SE). SE development ends through a controlled cell death programme (PCD), but surprisingly little is known about the genetic regulation of SE PCD. The EU-funded END-osperm project will address this knowledge gap by studying the gene regulatory network of maize (Zea mays) SE PCD. The research fellow will perform a single-nucleus RNA sequencing combined with a spatial transcriptomics approach on dissected endosperm tissue to obtain transcriptome profiles and developmental trajectories with single-cell resolution. They will select up to 20 PCD-associated candidate transcription factors based on their expression profiles and screen them for gain-of-function PCD phenotypes in transient expression systems.
Objective
Around 60% of our daily diet is directly derived from cereal grains. In the grain, most nutrients are stored in a highly specialized reserve tissue called the starchy endosperm (SE). SE development ends by the execution of a controlled cell death program (PCD), which leaves the nutrient-filled cell corpses largely intact. PCD has been proposed to be crucial for storage compound preservation, but despite this potential importance, surprisingly little is known on the genetic regulation of SE PCD. In this project, I hypothesise that cereal SE PCD is controlled by a gene regulatory network that I propose to investigate in maize (Zea mays). To this end, I will combine the extensive knowledge I acquired during my PhD on maize kernel development with the well-documented expertise of the host lab in plant PCD analysis. I will first determine the spatio-temporal pattern of SE PCD under the growth conditions of the host institute and characterise its subcellular features in detail by ultrastructural analyses. As SE PCD is not executed homogenously in time and space, I propose to perform then a single-nucleus RNA-seq combined with a spatial transcriptomics approach on dissected endosperm tissue in order to obtain transcriptome profiles and developmental trajectories with single-cell resolution. Based on their expression profiles, I will finally select up to 20 PCD-associated candidate transcription factors and screen them for gain-of-function PCD phenotypes in transient expression systems. Promising candidates will be functionally analysed in maize SE via gain- and loss-of-function approaches. In the resulting maize lines, I will investigate the changes in PCD progression and use them to assess the physiological relevance of a correct PCD execution in the SE. In sum, this project will generate the first functional insights on the gene regulatory networks of cereal SE PCD and will provide new leads for future agronomic applications.
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.
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture grains and oilseeds cereals
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
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)
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.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
9052 ZWIJNAARDE - GENT
Belgium
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.