Project description
Light-sensing and photosynthesis adaptation in ocean depths
Photosynthetic organisms use light as an energy source and environmental cue. They optimise photosynthetic processes to survive and optimise growth based on photoreceptor excitation and photosynthesis-derived signals (photoacclimation). Well understood in land plants, photoacclimation is poorly characterised in variable underwater light environments. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ENLIGHT project aims to determine how marine diatoms, an ecologically successful algal group, sense and integrate light signals to regulate photosynthesis. The project will investigate the signalling pathway associated with diatom phytochromes – putative depth-sensing photoreceptors. Elucidation of molecular mechanisms and key genes together with a comparison of photoacclimation strategies across diatom lineages will advance understanding of microalgal responses to environmental change.
Objective
Light is essential for photosynthetic organisms, providing them with both energy and environmental information. These organisms sense light intensity and spectral quality through direct photoreceptors and indirect signals from photosynthesis, enabling them to activate finely tuned responses called photoacclimation. Although well studied in terrestrial plants, photoacclimation in aquatic systems, particularly oceanic ones, remains poorly understood due to the complexity and variability of underwater light environments. Here, diatoms are one of the most ecologically successful group. This project aims to understand how marine diatoms sense and integrate different light signals to regulate photosynthetic responses, and to identify the molecular regulatory mechanisms involved. Diatoms are particularly well-suited for this research because of their set of specialized photoreceptors. Among them, the phytochrome DPH has been recently suggested to act as a depth sensor, putatively involved in adjusting photosynthetic capacity to deep-sea light conditions. This established a preliminary link between DPH-mediated photosensing and photosynthesis, although full characterization of the light signals activating DPH responses is still lacking. Through complementary approaches, this project will investigate the functional significance of light sensing for photoacclimation, using diatom DPH as case study. Specific light quality and quantity signals triggering DPH or plastid systems will be identified, together with consequent photosynthetic responses. Molecular pathways activated will be uncovered, to detect key genes targeted by DPH signalling cascade. Also, conserved or diversified photoacclimation strategies will be investigated across diatom lineages. Ultimately, this project will advance understanding of how marine microalgae face dynamic light conditions, providing the foundation for assessing their responses to complex environmental changes and implications for ecosystems.
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.
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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
75794 Paris
France
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.