Project description
A boost for plant defences against disease
Plant diseases threaten global food security, with many crops relying on their immune systems to fend off pathogens. Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) is a defence mechanism in plants, largely mediated by the enzyme FMO1, which synthesises the signalling molecule N-hydroxy-pipecolic acid (N-Pip). The role of FMO1 in monocots, including key crops like barley and sorghum, remains unclear. Early research suggests that monocot FMO1 may function differently, highlighting gaps in our understanding of its evolutionary diversification. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MultiPly project will explore the multifunctionality of FMO1 by integrating bioinformatics, enzymology, and plant physiology. It aims to uncover its role in SAR and improve disease resistance in economically vital crops.
Objective
Flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs) are a highly conserved family of enzymes present in prokaryotes, fungi, animals, and plants. Among plant FMOs, the N-hydroxylating FMO1 is essential for pathogen resistance. FMO1 catalyses the biosynthetic reaction to synthesize N-hydroxy-pipecolic acid (N-Pip), the critical signalling molecule for Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) defense priming. Since the identification of FMO1 functionality in 2018, targeted analysis of the N-Pip pathway shows high potential for metabolic engineering to enhance disease resistance in dicotyledons. A fully analogous role for N-Pip SAR in monocotyledonous crops, however, is less clear. In fact, preliminary analysis by the Neilson Group (UCPH) suggests the FMO1 from barley (Hordeum vulgare) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) has diversified functionality compared to activity observed in the FMO1 from Arabidopsis. Unbiased analysis of potential FMO1 multifunctionality has not yet been addressed, and detailed analysis of FMO1 evolution throughout the plant kingdom is lacking. The proposed project – ‘MultiPly: FMO1 Multifunctionality for improved Plant health’–will employ an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the evolution and functionality of the significant Plant FMO1s. Specifically, this project will combine bioinformatics (phylogeny reconstruction, protein modelling, and docking) with enzyme kinetic studies and in planta analysis to assess FMO1 multifunctionality throughout the plant kingdom. The in planta FMO1 characterization will primarily occur in barley to unravel the mode of SAR in these agriculturally important crops. In addition, MultiPly is designed to utilize my background in protein biochemistry and bioinformatics. I will also receive significant training within the new technical fields of metabolomics and plant physiology, as well as scientific management, leadership, and mentorship to establish an independent research group in academia.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences biological morphology comparative morphology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture grains and oilseeds cereals
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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.
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
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1165 KOBENHAVN
Denmark
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