Objectif
Light and the circadian clock control the timing of growth and neighbor sensing and are critical for proper regulation of fitness and biomass. At the intersection of these two pathways are the PIF transcription factors. However, although the components of both pathways are known, their downstream effectors are still poorly understood. In this proposal I plan to establish a functional connection between environmental perception and the molecular mechanisms controlling cell growth and proliferation, by looking at downstream outputs of light and the clock. I have previously shown that the growth-signalling regulator Arabidopsis 40S ribosomal protein S6 Kinase1 (S6K1) is also a inhibitor of cell division due to its ability to form a complex with RBR1 and E2FB. I found that S6K1 is co-expressed with CCA1, a major clock component and my preliminary data suggest that PIF and other circadian regulators could control S6K1 expression. I plan to confirm those observations and characterize the light and circadian regulation of S6K1 and also S6K2 both at transcriptional and post-translational levels. Moreover, I plan to extend this analysis to RBR1-E2FB and other regulators of cell growth and cell division. These findings will provide a better understanding of how cell growth and cell cycle regulation are connected and how the environment affects both. Furthermore, the characterization of these downstream regulators and their mode of action could allow the manipulation of plant yield under sub-optimal field conditions, and this knowledge could be transferred to other species with economic and agricultural importance.
Champ scientifique
Appel à propositions
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG
Voir d’autres projets de cet appel
Régime de financement
MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG)Coordinateur
08193 Cerdanyola Del Valles
Espagne