Descrizione del progetto
Studiare il collegamento tra l’orologio e le caratteristiche delle colture
Gli orologi circadiani sono conservati all’interno di meccanismi di misurazione del tempo che consentono all’organismo di allineare i processi fisiologici endogeni ai cambiamenti dell’ambiente. Oltre a tenere il tempo, questi orologi biologici funzionano come indispensabili regolatori per estese reti cellulari. Un’importante proteina nucleare specifica delle piante, la GIGANTEA controlla i ritmi circadiani e gioca un ruolo preciso in svariati processi fisiologici. Essa funge da interfaccia tra l’orologio e il suo rendimento. Il progetto CHRONOTRADE, finanziato dall’UE, esaminerà la GIGANTEA e caratterizzerà il meccanismo molecolare attraverso il quale modula l’equilibrio tra crescita e difesa. Per stabilire un quadro di manipolazione biotecnologica mirata, le conoscenze ottenute verranno trasferite su una specie di coltura (il pomodoro). I risultati consentiranno di approfondire il collegamento esistente tra l’orologio e il suo rendimento in vari modelli e specie di colture.
Obiettivo
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.
Campo scientifico
- 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
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinatore
28006 Madrid
Spagna