Project description
The mechanics of plant cell division
Cell division in multicellular organisms dictates not only the separation of cells but also the organisation and function of tissues. In plants, the position of the division plane plays a critical role in defining tissue topology. While research has largely focused on cell-autonomous cues, there is growing recognition of tissue-scale mechanical stress influencing division plane orientation. The ERC-funded COMPASS project addresses this gap by investigating how plant cells integrate mechanical and biochemical signals from surrounding tissues to orient cell division. By combining cell biology, genetics, and mechanical modelling, COMPASS explores the role of the actin cytoskeleton in sensing and processing these cues, offering a deeper understanding of tissue organisation at the molecular and organ scales.
Objective
In multicellular organisms, cell division not only drives the separation of the mother cell into daughter cells but also dictates the organization of the cells in a tissue, their identities, and functions. In walled organisms such as plants, the division plane's position irreversibly defines tissue topology and is tightly controlled. While the importance of division plane orientation for tissue topology is uncontested, research on division plane positioning primarily focuses on cell-autonomous cues. It has been hypothesized that tissue-scale mechanical stress may influence division plane orientation. Still, it needs to be clarified how such clues, let alone local tissue topology, are integrated into division plane positioning. Here, I will tackle this fundamental knowledge gap by integrating the cell division process in a multicellular context and considering cell division as a non-cell autonomous mechanism, relying on cues from the local environment. I propose a radical change of view where integrated mechanical (and possibly other) information at tricellular junctions provides a positional hallmark to guide division. This hypothesis stems from preliminary data in my team that further identified the actin cytoskeleton as a central actor in the perception/processing of mechanical cues, thereby locally integrating tissue topology to orient division. Using a combined approach of cell biology, genetics, and mechanical modeling at multiscale, we will investigate how plant cells orient their division by integrating biophysical and biochemical signals from surrounding tissues. In particular, we will address: How the dividing cell integrates the local neighborhood to orient the division plane? What are the molecular cues incorporating the mechanical and geometrical features to instruct cell division? What is the role of the cell division orientation at the organ scale? This work will allow me to build a mechanistic, multiscale vision of plant cell division positioning.
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 mathematics pure mathematics topology
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
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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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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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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.
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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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-COG
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75794 PARIS
France
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