Project description
DNA methylation reprogramming in plants
DNA methylation (DM) is essential for organism development and is involved in a variety of biological processes, including transcriptional regulation, transposon silencing, chromosome inactivation and genomic imprinting. This stable epigenetic mark, however, needs to be reprogrammed to a totipotent state for producing the next generation. Epigenetic reprogramming involves the erasure of methylation marks inherited from the gametes at preimplantation stages and the reestablishment of global DM patterns upon implantation. DM reprogramming was found in male germlines of flowering plants. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MASTER project aims to elucidate the scope, mechanism and environmental adaptation function of female and male germline DM reprogramming in Arabidopsis using a combination of single-cell genomics, epigenetics and developmental biology approaches.
Objective
Cytosine methylation is an ancient epigenetic modification that carries essential regulatory functions in eukaryotic genomes. This modification is reprogramed in both male and female germlines of mammals, regulating essential germline functions. My host lab discovered that DNA methylation reprogramming also occurs in male germlines of flowering plants, such as Arabidopsis, rice and maize. This reprogramming is catalyzed by the RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway (RdDM), which methylates hundreds of genes specifically in the male germline. In Arabidopsis, this germline-specific methylation (GSM) regulates male meiosis by controlling gene transcription and splicing. It is unknown if methylation reprogramming also occurs in plant female germlines. Furthermore, our preliminary data suggest that GSM is modulated by ambient temperature. It is mysterious if and how environmental modulation of methylation reprogramming contributes to stress tolerance in plant germlines.
I propose to answer these questions in Arabidopsis using a combination of single-cell genomics, epigenetics, genetics and developmental biology approaches. My preliminary work detected GSM in the egg companion cell and gynoecium (female organ), whose development was reported to be affected by RdDM mutations. Data also suggest that heat-induced modulation of GSM activates a heat shock gene in male meiocytes. Thus, I hypothesize that methylation reprogramming occurs and plays essential regulatory roles in the female germline, and beyond; an important function of such reprogramming is to mediate germline response to environmental stresses such as heat. Here, I will test this hypothesis and elucidate the scope, mechanism and environmental adaptation function of germline reprogramming. My discoveries will elucidate essential methylation and regulatory mechanisms in plant germlines that mediate intergenerational heredity, and establish a novel epigenetic paradigm in how germlines perceive and respond to stress.
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.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences developmental biology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics heredity
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics epigenetics
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes eukaryotic genomes
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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-2020
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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.
NR4 7UH NORWICH
United Kingdom
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.