Project description
How TOR controls plant growth
Growth and organ formation in plants depend on signals that link metabolism to development. The shoot apical meristem (SAM) is the plant’s growth engine – a tissue responsible for producing new cells and initiating organs. The TOR kinase is a key metabolic regulator activated by light and sugar, which is central to SAM function. TOR promotes the expression of a critical stem cell regulator called WUSCHEL and maintains cytokinin levels by inhibiting the production of cytokinin-degrading enzymes. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the TORcySTEM project will investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying this regulation, identify TOR-sensitive elements in cytokinin-related genes, and uncover proteins that mediate TOR effects.
Objective
Plant growth and organogenesis depend on the ability of meristems to integrate metabolic signals with developmental pathways. The shoot apical meristem (SAM) is a key developmental hub where nutrient availability and hormonal cues, particularly cytokinin, coordinate cell proliferation and organ initiation. The conserved kinase Target of Rapamycin (TOR) acts as a central regulator of these inputs, and its activity is essential for meristem activation and stem cell maintenance. Work from the host lab has shown that light and sugar activate TOR, which in turn promotes expression of the stem cell regulator WUSCHEL (WUS) and enables proper SAM function. Recent findings further reveal that TOR sustains shoot growth by repressing the translation of CKX transcripts, which encode cytokinin-degrading enzymes, thereby preserving cytokinin levels required for WUS expression and meristem activity. However, the mechanism behind this selective translational control remains unknown.
TORcySTEM (TOR–cytokinin–merisSTEM axis) will dissect this regulatory pathway through three objectives:
1) Identify TOR-sensitive cis-regulatory elements within CKX transcripts;
2) Discover TOR-regulated trans-acting effector proteins;
3) Establish how this control shapes cytokinin signaling and SAM function.
Together, these aims will uncover how TOR-dependent translational control fine-tunes cytokinin homeostasis and stem cell activity, providing a mechanistic link between metabolism and shoot development.
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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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.
Funding Scheme
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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-2025-PF
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69117 Heidelberg
Germany
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