Project description
Gaining insight into plant development through soluble signalling molecules
The soluble signalling molecules called inositol pyrophosphates (PP-InsPs) play various roles in fungal and animal cell signalling. However, there's still a lot to learn about the metabolism of PP-InsPs in plants, and many signalling pathways controlled by PP-InsPs remain undiscovered. Using the results of previous research, the EU-funded INSPIRE project aims to dissect plant PP-InsP signalling networks physiologically and mechanistically by combining quantitative biochemistry and structural biology with cell biology and genome editing. The project will involve determining the roles that PP-InsPs play in plant light sensing and signalling, in flowering time regulation and in plant immune responses. The resulting understanding of plant development and interaction with the environment will enable enhanced crop performance in the future.
Objective
Inositol pyrophosphates (PP-InsPs) are soluble signaling molecules known to play diverse roles in fungal and animal cell signaling. The metabolism of PP-InsPs in plants however is poorly understood and many signaling pathways controlled by PP-InsPs remain to be discovered. Funded by an ERC starting grant, we have previously identified protein sensor domains for PP-InsPs, which allow PP-InsPs to act as central regulators of phosphate homeostasis in all eukaryotes. Genetic disruption of PP-InsP synthesis results in dramatic phenotypes in the model plant Arabidopsis, which however cannot be rationalized by defects in phosphate signaling only. Based on these physiological observations, we generated a system-wide Arabidopsis PP-InsP interactome, using an affinity-matrix absorbed non-hydrolyzable PP-InsP analog. Surprisingly, hundreds of novel candidates from different protein families were identified in this screen, now enabling us to study PP-InsP catabolism and a multitude of PP-InsP-mediated signaling processes. Here, I propose to combine quantitative biochemistry and structural biology with cell biology and genome editing to dissect plant PP-InsP signaling networks at the physiological level and in mechanistic detail. Specifically, we will define the roles for PP-InsPs in plant light sensing and signaling, in flowering time regulation and in plant immune responses. Our ultimate goal will be to investigate the cross-talk between different PP-InsP-controlled signaling pathways and to define central signaling hubs. I envision that the work outlined in this proposal will yield a mechanistically validated systems-level view of PP-InsP signal transduction in plants, which may allow us to better understand how plants develop and interact with their environment, and that may enable us to improve crop performance in the future.
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
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology homeostasis
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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)
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Topic(s)
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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
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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-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2018-COG
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1211 Geneve
Switzerland
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