Project description
Insight into the molecular mechanisms of iron-mobilising coumarins
Iron is essential for the growth and development of crop plants. Similarly, it is vital for human health, yet lacking in many people’s diets. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of iron acquisition in plants could lead to enhanced iron absorption and storage, paving the way for iron-fortified crops. The mobilisation of iron by root-borne coumarins may provide answers. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MORFE project will investigate the molecular mechanisms that regulate biosynthesis, trafficking and secretion in iron-mobilising coumarins. Using an original bioinformatics pipeline, it has identified conserved DNA signatures involved in these processes for different plant species. It now aims to identify and characterise the associated regulatory proteins in the species Arabidopsis.
Objective
Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for the productivity of crops and the quality of their derived products. Fe is also the most deficient mineral nutrient in human diet. Decrypting the molecular mechanisms plants have evolved to acquire Fe from the soil is essential for improving their capacity to absorb and store Fe, which will help to provide adequate dietary Fe to the growing global population. The secretion in the soil of root-borne coumarins has emerged as a key factor affecting Fe uptake in non-grass species. The mechanisms by which Fe mobilizing coumarins biosynthesis, trafficking and secretion is regulated is still not well understood. Using an original bioinformatic pipeline, the candidate has identified conserved DNA-signatures in the promoter of key genes involved in this process in different plants species, including crops. The objective of this project is to identify and characterized in Arabidopsis the regulatory proteins associated with these DNA-signatures and determine their role in plant Fe nutrition. In work package 1 (WP1), the developed bioinformatic pipeline will be further used to enhance the detection accuracy of conserved potential regulatory DNA motifs present in the promoter of Fe-mobilizing coumarin genes. Candidate proteins interacting with the selected potential DNA motifs will be identified using in silico and in vivo approaches (WP2). Last, we will generate mutants in order to precisely define the role of each candidate identified. In vivo imaging of coumarin and candidate protein localization will be conducted to ascertain the role of each candidate in the spatiotemporal distribution of coumarins within the roots (WP3). The proposed project is both feasible and appropriate for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship, since the expected outcomes are innovative and will generate knowledge for both fundamental and industrial research, while the candidate will improve his skills and knowledge in a specialized research area.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- social sciences economics and business economics production economics productivity
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
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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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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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75007 Paris
France
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