Linking mechanics and endoreduplication with tissue folding

Descripción del proyecto

La mecánica del plegamiento tisular

El plegamiento tisular es un proceso común y firmemente regulado que tiene lugar durante el desarrollo. Un ejemplo destacado es la formación del gancho apical en las plántulas de dicotiledóneas impulsada por la elongación celular diferencial del tallo. Aunque se sabe que protege el tallo de posibles daños y ayuda a la supervivencia de las plántulas jóvenes, el mecanismo subyacente preciso sigue siendo poco conocido. El proyecto MendoFold, financiado con fondos europeos, trabaja con la hipótesis de que la replicación del ADN sin la subsiguiente división celular, conocida como endorreduplicación, está implicada en el desarrollo del gancho apical. Dado que las plantas tienen paredes celulares bastante rígidas, los investigadores estudiarán la interacción entre la endorreduplicación, la mecánica de la pared celular y las señales hormonales en la formación del gancho apical. El proyecto determinará los factores clave del plegamiento tisular vegetal, lo que tendrá consecuencias importantes para la biomecánica del desarrollo y la ingeniería tisular.

Objetivo

Tissue folding plays a key role in the development of all multi-cellular organisms. The aim of this MSCA-IF fellowship is to decipher the poorly understood mechanisms involved in regulating tissue folding in plants, using the apical hook as a model. The hook forms via tissue folding driven by differential cell elongation in the embryonic stem (hypocotyl) and is critical for the survival of young seedlings, since it protects the shoot apical meristem from damage as it passes through soil during seedling germination. Work in the host lab has recently shown that endoreduplication (DNA replication without subsequent cell division) is involved in hook development. Since plant cells are enclosed by rigid cell walls, it is hypothesized that tissue folding during apical hook formation involves an interplay between endoreduplication, cell wall mechanics and hormonal signals which will be deciphered by Dr. Yuan Ma during this fellowship. Simultaneously, Dr. Ma will receive training in cutting- edge techniques like atomic force microscopy, flow cytometry, and immunocytochemistry in leading environments such the host lab at SLU/UPSC (Umeå, Sweden) and via secondments to VIB (Ghent, Belgium) and ENS (Lyon, France). Synergistically complementing skills in biochemistry and genomics gained during his PhD, this training will provide Dr. Ma with a unique technical and theoretical expertise in experimental biomechanics, strongly promoting a successful achievement of the project’s goals, opening of new vistas in developmental biomechanics, and support the researcher’s ambition of becoming a research leader. The researcher will follow a personalized career development plan, to also enhance skills such as communication, grant writing, public engagement and student mentoring. Thus, this MSCA-IF will enable elucidation of a key process in developmental systems biology (with important applications in tissue engineering), and career advancement of a scientist with outstanding potential.