Project: Unraveling the molecular and cellular basis of vascular tissue formation
2015-04-01 – 2023-03-31
- Abstract
Plant cells are organised in files along the body axis and growth is maintained through divisions within these files of cells. In order to create a new three-dimensional organ however, plants trigger cells in a specific zone to undergo a different type of division, forming additional cell files. Vascular cells have the specific ability to undergo many of these formative divisions, generating the tissues that make up wood in trees and that are responsible for source-to-sink transport throughout the plant. Therefore, a clear understanding of these formative divisions holds great promise for increasing yield in agronomical important crops. Remarkably, despite this potential, virtually nothing is known about how vascular tissues are initially formed.
We recently identified the very first factor that is both necessary and sufficient to trigger formative divisions in the vascular tissue. This factor consists of two subunits, and the overlapping expression domains restrict the normal activity to a zone of young vascular cells; exactly where formative divisions occur. Strikingly however, when activated elsewhere, this factor can promote formative division in all cell types. This finding now enables me to answer several central unanswered questions in developmental biology, namely ‘what are the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the trigger to undergo formative divisions?’ and ‘how to restrict formative divisions to a small zone of competence?’.
In this project, I will use a multi-level approach encompassing transcriptomics, proteomics, cell biology and genetics both at the cellular and at the tissue level to provide answers to these fundamental questions. This work will present a major step forward in our understanding of organ formation, formative divisions in general and vascular tissue formation in particular. At the same time, I will use this information to take the initial, but essential, steps to modify plant architecture in agronomical important species.
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Intrinsic cues guiding changes in division orientation in the Arabidopsis root meristem – a formative experience
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- Journal Article
- A1
- open access
A precise balance of TETRASPANIN1/TORNADO2 activity is required for vascular proliferation and ground tissue patterning in Arabidopsis
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- Journal Article
- A1
- open access
Reversible S-nitrosylation of bZIP67 by peroxiredoxin IIE activity and nitro-fatty acids regulates the plant lipid profile
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- Journal Article
- A1
- open access
Studying plant vascular development using single-cell approaches
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- Miscellaneous
- open access
A precise balance of TETRASPANIN1/TORNADO2 activity is required for vascular proliferation and ground tissue patterning in Arabidopsis
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- Journal Article
- A1
- open access
The transcription factor AtMYB12 is part of a feedback loop regulating cell division orientation in the root meristem vasculature
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- Journal Article
- A1
- open access
Deep origin and gradual evolution of transporting tissues : perspectives from across the land plants
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- Journal Article
- A1
- open access
Cell-by-cell dissection of phloem development links a maturation gradient to cell specialization