Project: Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms by which the phytohormone jasmonate triggers the concurrent remodeling of the plant endoplasmic reticulum and reprogramming of plant metabolism.

2020-01-01 – 2023-12-31

Abstract

Plants synthesize thousands of metabolites, including bioactive specialized metabolites that serve plant survival and are employed in various human applications Our current understanding of plant specialized metabolism and its organisation is still restricted, by which this rich resource of natural products is still largely untapped Two aspects can be considered key First, plants respond quickly to developmental and environmental signals, such as the phytohormone jasmonate (JA), that trigger reprogramming of cellular metabolism to boost fluxes through specific metabolic pathways Second, these pathways are highly compartmentalized and are typically spread over multiple subcellular compartments, among which the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) In this FWO senior research project, we aim to get better fundamental insights into these two aspects We will dissect the process of plant ER remodeling during metabolic reprogramming induced by JA This will be achieved by profiling ER remodeling following JA elicitation in tomato roots as a model and using state-of-the-art imaging and omics technologies followed by reverse genetics analysis We aim to obtain an original and comprehensive mapping of ER dynamics and remodeling in planta, given that we will implement a unique focus on ER-located P450 enzymes and specialized metabolism