Project description
Unlocking the complicated mysteries of how plants evolve
To address the gene imbalances caused by Y or W chromosome degeneration and with the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PlantSexChrDComics project aims to investigate the evolution of sex chromosomes and dosage compensation (DC). While chromosome-wide DC is documented in specific fauna, its prevalence and mechanisms in plants remains largely uncharacterised. Using Silene and Rumex as dioecious models, it will integrate transcriptomics and proteomics to provide the first systematic evaluation of post-transcriptional buffering in plants. By classifying sex-linked genes through evolutionary strata and synonymous substitution rates, the project will track the tempo of DC emergence. Furthermore, long-read sequencing will determine if alternative splicing contributes to regulatory equilibrium, offering unprecedented insights into the multi-layered dynamics of sex chromosome evolution.
Objective
This project will address a key question in evolutionary biology: the evolution of sex chromosomes and the origin and regulation of dosage compensation (DC). Degeneration of non-recombining sex-specific chromosomes (e.g. Y in mammals, W in birds) causes gene loss and dosage imbalances between sexes. While some organisms with ancient sex chromosomes (e.g. Drosophila, mammals) evolved chromosome-wide DC, such systems are not universally observed in birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, or plants. Emerging evidence in animals suggests that incomplete transcriptional DC may be buffered by post-transcriptional regulation, but whether this mechanism extends to plants remains entirely untested. To fill this gap, I will study two phylogenetically dioicous plants, Silene and Rumex, each with independently evolved sex chromosomes, using hermaphroditic outgroups as ancestral references. This will be the first study to integrate post-transcriptional regulation into the analysis of plant DC. For each species, I will generate three complementary omics: long-read, short-read transcriptomics and proteomics from the same individuals, tissues and developmental stages. I will test whether incomplete transcriptional DC is offset by post-transcriptional regulation. To trace the origin and tempo of DC, I will compare expression balance between sexes across evolutionary strata of varying ages, classifying sex-linked genes by synonymous substitution rates (dS) and functional categories. Long-read sequencing will further allow the first systematic test of whether alternative splicing (AS) contributes to DC in plants. Finally, integrating multi-omics from both vegetative and reproductive tissues of both sexes will enable a comprehensive view of tissue- and sex-specific regulatory dynamics. Overall, this project will provide unprecedented insights into the early stages of DC evolution and the interplay between transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation in sex chromosome evolution.
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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)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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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OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom
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