Objective The protein phosphatase family BSL is highly conserved and universally present in all green plants, from single-celled algae to multicellular land plants. Genetic evidence shows that it plays an essential, albeit completely unknown, role in plant cell biology. The model plant Arabidopsis has four BSL genes, but genetic redundancy coupled with embryonic lethality of mutants has seriously hampered functional studies of the family. In contrast, the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has only a single BSL homolog and the recent isolation of a temperature-conditional mutation (bsl1-1) in this gene generated a unique tool for rapid switching of BSL activity to study its molecular/celular functions. Detailed analysis of the bsl1-1 mutant identified a role for BSl1 in cell division in Chlamydomonas, specifically in mitotic progression. This phenotype is also consistent with the reduced meristem size observed in BSL knock-down in Arabidopsis and suggests an evolutionarily conserved role for the BSL phosphatase in cell cycle regulation. In the proposed project I will first perform a comprehensive proteomic/biochemical analysis of BSL1 in Chlamydomonas to identify the mechanistic basis for its key role in mitosis. This analysis with include (i) a phosphoproteomic screen to look for substrates and downstream effectors of the BSL1 phosphatase, and (ii) a characterization the BSL1 interactome using a variety of immunoprecipitation-based methods. I will then, during the return phase, translate the findings from Chlamydomonas into Arabidopsis by studying the role of BSL during root meristem development using a combination of microscopic and genetic approaches. Given the conservation of the BSL family throughout the viridiplantae, the results from this study are likely to have a broad impact on the plant biology research community. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyphycologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological sciencescell biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsmutation Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2017 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2017 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN Net EU contribution € 257 860,80 Address Arcisstrasse 21 80333 Muenchen Germany See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Partners (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON United States Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address P street nw 1530 20005 Washington dc See on map Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 172 130,40
