Description du projet
Aperçu moléculaire de la croissance des plantes
Dans les plantes et en particulier dans les arbres, la partie qui produit le bois est connue sous le nom de cambium vasculaire, alors que le liège émerge du cambium de liège. L’objectif principal du projet CORKtheCAMBIA financé par l’UE consiste à étudier les mécanismes par le biais desquels les cellules souches du cambium de liège régulent l’épaississement des organes végétaux. En utilisant une combinaison de techniques moléculaires et génétiques ainsi que la modélisation informatique, les chercheurs fourniront des informations fondamentales sur la façon dont les cambiums vasculaire et de liège coordonnent la croissance latérale des plantes. Les résultats générés ouvriront la voie à de meilleures pratiques de manipulation des cultures.
Objectif
Growth originates from meristems, where stem cells are located. Lateral meristems, which provide thickness to tree stems and other plant organs, include vascular cambium (produces xylem [wood] and phloem); and cork cambium (forms cork, a tough protective layer).
We recently identified the molecular mechanism that specifies stem cells of vascular cambium. Unexpectedly, this same set of experiments revealed also novel aspects of the regulation of cork cambium, a meristem whose development has remained unknown. CORKtheCAMBIA aims to identify the stem cells of cork cambium and reveal how they mechanistically regulate plant organ thickening. Thus, stemming from these novel unpublished findings and my matching expertise on plant stem cells and lateral growth, the timing is perfect to discover the molecular mechanism underlying specification of stem cells of cork cambium.
To identify the origin of stem cells of cork cambium, 1st-we will combine lineage tracing with a detailed molecular marker analysis. To deduce the cell dynamics of cork cambium, 2nd-we will follow regeneration of the stem cells after ablation of this meristem. To discover the molecular factors regulating the stem cell specification of cork cambium, 3rd-we will utilize molecular genetics and a novel method (inducible CRISPR/Cas9 mutant targeting) being developed in my lab. Since the lateral growth is orchestrated by two adjacent, nested meristems, cork and vascular cambia, the growth process must be tightly co-regulated. Thus, 4th-an in silico model of the intertwined growth process will be generated. By combining modelling with experimentation, we will uncover mechanistically how cork and vascular cambium coordinate lateral growth.
CORKtheCAMBIA will thus provide long-awaited insight into the regulatory mechanisms specifying the stem cells of lateral meristem as whole, lay the foundation for studies on radial thickening and facilitate rational manipulation of lateral meristems of crop plants and trees.
Champ scientifique
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgenetics
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biologymolecular genetics
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cells
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculture
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesforestry
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
ERC-COG - Consolidator GrantInstitution d’accueil
00014 Helsingin Yliopisto
Finlande