Objective
Brassinosteroids (BRs) are steroidal phytohormones that regulate nearly all aspects of plant growth and development. The shoot and root apical meristems (SAM and RAM, respectively) each contain a small group of pluripotent stem cells that continuously divide to generate aerial and underground tissues. Recent work from the host lab revealed fluctuations in BR activity during the cell cycle in the Arabidopsis RAM, where polarity-driven asymmetric BR signaling and biosynthesis between daughter cells ensure optimal root growth. Whether this mechanism also operates in the SAM remains unknown. While auxin and cytokinin are well established in maintaining SAM homeostasis, the contribution of BRs is poorly understood. Preliminary findings from the host lab show distinct expression patterns of BR-related proteins within the SAM, along with abnormal SAM phenotypes in BR mutants of Arabidopsis and tomato, suggesting an essential but unexplored role for BRs in stem cell regulation. Based on these, I hypothesize that BRs determine SAM size by modulating stem cell homeostasis. Within BRIDGE, I will pursue four objectives: (1) apply live-cell imaging in Arabidopsis and multiplexed RNA imaging in tomato to generate high-resolution maps of BR metabolism and signaling; (2) employ MorphoGraphX-based 3D reconstruction to quantify cellular parameters in wild-type and BR mutants; (3) perform snRNA-seq of tomato SAMs to identify cell type–specific transcriptional responses to BR deficiency; and (4) functionally validate at least two candidate regulators uncovered by snRNA-seq that mediate BR-dependent SAM control. Together, these approaches will reveal how BRs orchestrate cell division and state transitions in the SAM. This work will advance fundamental understanding of stem cell regulation in plants and provide translational strategies to enhance crop productivity by fine-tuning BR-mediated growth control.
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 biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- social sciences economics and business economics production economics productivity
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
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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)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
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.