Project description
Untangling redundant or multiple functions in complex gene interactions
Compartmentalisation is a unifying organisational principle in living organisms, and it occurs on all levels, from organelles and cells to tissues, organs and the entire organism. In the endodermis of roots in higher plants, Casparian strips, like the tight junctions in animal epithelial cells, provide an extracellular diffusion barrier within plant roots. They are a detour in a way, forcing water and nutrients to enter the cells via plasma membrane transport proteins. Over the last decade, significant progress has been made in identifying the proteins needed to make the Casparian strips. However, this progress has stalled largely due to the existence of multiple genes with the same function (redundancy) and genes with multiple functions. The EU-funded Wall-E project is developing an innovative screening process to identify minimally sufficient gene sets using the Casparian strip as a model system, with possible application in other processes and organisms.
Objective
In plants, the root endodermis functions as a barrier, allowing the selective uptake of nutrients and water. The barrier is formed by cell wall impregnations called Casparian strips (CS), produced by differentiating endodermal cells. In the last decade, pioneering work on the endodermis has identified numerous players involved in CS formation, including transmembrane proteins, peroxidases, dirigent-like proteins, lignin polymerising enzymes, laccases and super-oxide dismutases. However, the forward and reverse genetic approaches used to uncover these proteins are slowly coming to a standstill due to their limitations when faced with gene redundancy or genes with a broader range of activities, causing pleiotropy or lethality. I now propose to use CS formation as a model in order to pioneer a combinatorial, gain-of-function screen, aiming to define a minimally sufficient gene set for the assembly of a CS. I will attempt to reconstitute a CS in the endodermis of the myb36 mutant – a master regulator of endodermal differentiation - by activation screening for genes within the MYB36-dependent gene set. Firstly, I will introduce a “core machinery” for CS formation by expressing important known players and assessing CS formation and stability (WP1). Secondly, I will test the most recently developed second generation CRISPR activator systems for their efficiency in activating genes of interest in the endodermis (WP2). Thirdly, using the CRISPR activator technology, I will screen for novel genes that will improve the formation, stability and functionality of the CS (WP3). Identifying new genes involved in CS formation through a combinatorial, gain-of-function approach represents a novel way to genetically elucidate molecular mechanisms and could become a model for other cellular and developmental processes in Arabidopsis or other organisms.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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.
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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.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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1015 LAUSANNE
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.