Project description
Paramutation and the processes behind crop trait instability
Crop trait instability, particularly under the pressures of climate change, presents risks to food security. Epigenetic mechanisms are increasingly recognised as key contributors to this instability. Paramutation is one of these mechanisms, whereby a silenced allele can suppress its active counterpart, leading to unstable traits across generations. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the STEM project will deepen our understanding of how specific epigenetic modifications influence paramutation. The project will focus on the maize booster1 gene, exploring various hypotheses related to the interactions between DNA methylation and repressive histone modifications. These efforts will provide crucial insights into the mechanisms of paramutation, advancing our knowledge and offering potential strategies to stabilise desirable crop traits for future agricultural resilience.
Objective
Crop trait instability, particularly under climate change, poses a significant challenge to global food security. Epigenetic mechanisms are increasingly recognized as key contributors to this instability. Paramutation, an epigenetic phenomenon where one silenced inducing allele heritably silences its homologous active sensitive counterpart, leads to unstable traits across generations. Despite its implications for breeding, the mechanisms underlying paramutation remain largely elusive. Recent findings from the host lab suggest that specific DNA methylation and histone modification patterns play central roles in this process. Building on these insights, this project investigates how these epigenetic modifications influence paramutation, using the maize booster1 (b1) gene as a model.
The project is structured into two main objectives: First, I will investigate the hypothesis that inactive DNA flanking the sensitive b1 allele facilitates its silencing by the inducing b1 allele. If true, when exposed to the inducing allele, DNA methylation will spread from the inactive flanking DNA into the active b1 sequences, triggering their silencing. To test this, I will generate detailed DNA methylation profiles during key developmental stages using the novel Cas9-targeted long-read sequencing (nCATS) method. Second, I will explore the relationship between DNA methylation and repressive histone modifications, focusing on the order in which these epigenetic marks are established during paramutation. I will also employ the novel dCas12a-SunTag-TET1-system to specifically demethylate the flanking inactive regions of the active b1 allele, and assess its impact on paramutation. These approaches will advance our understanding of paramutation and provide clues on how to stabilise desirable crop traits. This project is a critical step toward my goal of becoming an independent researcher, by deepening my expertise in epigenetics, advanced lab techniques and crucial transferable skills.
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 DNA
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences atmospheric sciences climatology climatic changes
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics epigenetics
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture grains and oilseeds cereals
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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1012WX Amsterdam
Netherlands
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