Objective "Plant architecture is largely determined by branching patterns in the shoot and root systems. Shoots of seed plants, such as the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, branch via lateral bud outgrowth, where branches are patterned along the stem at the base of a leaf. Roots branch laterally from an internal cell layer surrounded by differentiated tissues, at a distance from the root tip. Despite the differences in ontogeny and the divergent evolutionary origin of root and shoot lateral branches, both processes are controlled by the three redundantly-acting AP2-domain containing transcription factors PLETHORA3, 5 and 7 (PLT3,5,7). These proteins control phyllotaxis, the pattern of lateral organs in the shoot, and rhizotaxis, the spacing of lateral roots. Although the phytohormone auxin is known to be intimately involved in both phyllotaxis and rhizotaxis, the PLT3,5,7 module represents the first genetic element to be implicated in control of both processes. Thus, the goal of this proposal is to illuminate the genetic network surrounding PLT3,5,7 gene activity in both the shoot and root contexts. Early results suggest that auxin lies both upstream and downstream of PLT action, pointing to a positive feedback loop which could be at the heart of a pattern generating system. To investigate this network further, genes surrounding PLT action will be identified using genetic, bioinformatic and biochemical strategies. Physical and genetic interactions will place these genes in a genetic hierarchy. Dynamic expression of these genes in living shoots and roots will be monitored using real-time confocal microscopy, and changes in the network dynamics will be observed in plt mutants and in auxin manipulation experiments. The results from this project will illuminate the similarities and differences between these two PLT-bases patterning pathways and will be of interest to developmental, computational and evolutionary biologists alike." Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesevolutionary biologynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopyconfocal microscopy Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinator WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY EU contribution € 129 416,56 Address DROEVENDAALSESTEEG 4 6708 PB Wageningen Netherlands See on map Region Oost-Nederland Gelderland Veluwe Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Peter Van Beem Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT Participation ended Netherlands EU contribution € 107 833,24 Address HEIDELBERGLAAN 8 3584 CS Utrecht See on map Region West-Nederland Utrecht Utrecht Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Astrid Haijma (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
