Descripción del proyecto
Estudio de las conexiones entre el reloj circadiano y los rasgos de los cultivos
Los relojes circadianos son mecanismos de seguimiento temporal conservados que permiten a los organismos sincronizar procesos fisiológicos endógenos con el medio ambiente cambiante. Estos relojes biológicos no son solo cronómetros, sino que funcionan como reguladores centrales de grandes redes celulares. Una nucleoproteína específica de las plantas, GIGANTEA, desempeña un papel crucial en varios procesos fisiológicos, además de controlar los ritmos circadianos. Funciona en el límite que existe entre el reloj circadiano y sus respuestas. El proyecto CHRONOTRADE, financiado con fondos europeos, investigará GIGANTEA y caracterizará el mecanismo molecular por el que modula el equilibrio entre crecimiento y defensa. A fin de establecer un marco para la manipulación biotecnológica dirigida, la información obtenida se transferirá a una especie cultivada (el tomate). Los hallazgos mejorarán nuestro conocimiento de las conexiones entre el reloj circadiano y sus respuestas en especies modelo y en especies cultivadas.
Objetivo
Circadian clocks are conserved time-tracking mechanisms that allow organisms to align endogenous physiological processes with the changing environment. Growing evidence supports a role for these biological clocks, not only as mere timekeepers, but as pivotal regulators of extensive cellular networks. In plants, the influence of the clock on development and physiology is pervasive and many traits of agronomical value are subjected to circadian regulation. Noteworthy, clock gene alleles have been traditionally selected because of their desirable influences on key agricultural traits.
An outstanding clock protein that functions at the interface between the clock and its output is GIGANTEA (GI). We propose to investigate this regulatory hub protein, and characterize the molecular mechanism by which it modulates the balance between growth and defense. Knowledge gained from the model plant Arabidopsis will be transferred to a crop species (tomato) in order to establish a framework for targeted biotechnological manipulation. Consequently, an innovative strategy based on edgetic alleles will be deployed to generate new GI alleles that uncouple growth from defense, a key feature for cultivated species.
From a training point of view, this fellowship will build on the Experienced Researcher’s (ER) solid expertise on molecular biology and complement it with the skills required to translate basic research to tackle specific agronomical issues. This will undoubtedly boost her opportunities to reach an independent research position with biotechnological orientation.
In summary, this proposal aims to (i) advance our understanding on the connections between the clock and its output in model and crop species, (ii) generate novel variants of circadian-clock components as a biotechnological strategy for sustainable agriculture, and (iii) render a well-trained academic researcher with the capacities needed to develop a professional career within biotechnological research.
Ámbito científico
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturesustainable agriculture
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationstelecommunications networksmobile network
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biology
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinador
28006 Madrid
España