Objective
Oxygen (O2) and nitric oxide (NO) are gases that function as key developmental and stress-associated signals in plants. Investigating the molecular basis of their perception has the potential to identify new targets for crop improvement. In previous ground breaking work I showed that the direct transcriptional response to O2/NO is mediated by controlled degradation of specialised ‘gas-sensing’ transcription factors. We have now linked this degradation mechanism to a new functional class of ‘sensor’, a chromatin modifying protein that regulates the epigenetic silencing of genes. Here we will investigate the hypothesis that this protein acts as a previously undiscovered link between O2/NO and chromatin dynamics, and that plants have evolved a unique system for transducing gaseous signals into rapid transcriptional responses, and longer term epigenetic changes, through targeting different types of protein to the same degradation pathway.
Using multidisciplinary genetic, biochemical and omics approaches we will investigate the molecular basis of this novel gas perception system, which appears to be a plant-specific innovation. We will identify its global gene targets (the ‘gas-responsive epigenome’), and uncover its growth and stress-associated functions in Arabidopsis and barley. We will also investigate how manipulating this pathway using genome editing and synthetic biology techniques alters plant performance, focusing on traits of agronomic significance. This ambitious and timely research will take our knowledge of O2/NO-signaling and the control of chromatin dynamics beyond the current state of the art by offering insight into a completely novel signaling mechanism operating at the interface of gas-perception, protein degradation, and epigenetics. GasPlaNt will therefore provide a step-change in our understanding of how plants synchronise their gene expression in response to signals to optimise growth and development within a dynamic environment.
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.
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- natural sciences biological sciences synthetic biology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics epigenetics epigenomes
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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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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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
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.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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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) ERC-2016-STG
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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.
B15 2TT Birmingham
United Kingdom
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