Project description
Connecting the nucleus and autophagy in plant defence
Autophagy is a major renewal mechanism of the cell that removes damaged or redundant cellular components in eukaryotes. It is a defensive mechanism of plants against pathogens and could open new paths to improving disease resistance in crops. Research on plant autophagy initially emphasised cytoplasmic mechanisms and targets. However, the degradation of nuclear components and the epigenetic regulation of autophagy have recently attracted increasing attention in yeast and mammalian systems. The EU-funded NUCLAGY project is based on the researcher’s findings that several isoforms of the Arabidopsis core autophagy protein 8 (ATG8) localise to distinct nuclear components. The project will identify nuclear ATG8 interactomes in physiological and disease conditions by affinity-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analysis. The characterisation of interactors is expected to uncover novel regulators and nuclear targets of autophagy with implications for plant defence and crop improvement.
Objective
Autophagy is a major degradation and renewal system that controls cellular homeostasis and stress adaptation in eukaryotes. Emerging evidence indicates that autophagy is an integral part of the plant’s defence against pathogens and thus, a promising target to improve disease resistance in crops. Research on plant autophagy has primarily focused on cytoplasmic targets and mechanisms, yet the degradation of nuclear components (nucleophagy) and the epigenetic regulation of autophagy have recently received growing attention in yeast and mammalian systems. Whether nuclear events are of similar importance for plant autophagy is unknown and therefore, the major question to be addressed in this project. The proposed research builds on my key finding that several isoforms of the Arabidopsis core autophagy protein 8 (ATG8) localize to distinct nuclear compartments. I aim to identify the nuclear ATG8 interactomes at normal and virus-induced conditions by affinity-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analysis. Candidate interactors will be functionally analysed for their potential role as transcriptional/epigenetic regulators, cargo receptors, and nucleophagic substrates in response to Cauliflower mosaic virus and Cabbage leaf curl virus. I will also investigate how these pathogens intersect with nuclear functions to manipulate cytoplasmic events of autophagy during infection. The proposed project will be carried out at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences under supervision of Prof. Daniel Hofius, a leading scientist and expert in plant autophagy and immunity. Hence, the project provides an excellent opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience to autophagy, while the host lab will benefit from my strong expertise in plant virology and epigenetics. Together, this synergistic effort will reveal fundamental insights into the nuclear dynamics of autophagy in plant immunity, and uncover novel autophagic mechanisms for crop improvement.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology homeostasis
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics epigenetics
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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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
750 07 Uppsala
Sweden
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.