Att dechiffrera de transkriptionella nätverk som integrerar ljus- och hormonsignalvägar under adventiv rotinitiering i Arabidopsis

Plants display regenerative capacity widely exploited in modern agriculture, where elite genotypes are vegetatively multiplied through stem cuttings. A critical point for a successful propagation entails the development of adventitious roots (AR).

AR initiation (ARI) occurs in differentiated cells of aerial plant organs after cell dedifferentiation and reprogramming.

We have identified ARI regulatory genes acting at the crosstalk of light and three major plant hormones´ signaling pathways in Arabidopsis.

The identified genes include subunits of the evolutionary conserved multiprotein complex COP9 signalosome (CSN) required for protein degradation. In both animals and plants, CSN plays essential roles in cell‐cycle and cell‐fate control.

In addition to the reported pleiotropic effects in human cell proliferation and differentiation, CSN is also necessary for root meristem maintenance in plants.

In this project we propose to add pieces to the puzzle by: 1) characterizing the role of the CSN5B subunit in the control of ARI; 2) characterizing the role of the PIF1 gene involved in light signaling and negatively controlling ARI; 3) and that of WOX13 and WOX14 transcription factors recently shown to be involved in regenerative processes and positively controlling ARI; To fulfill our objectives, we will follow a functional biology approach that integrates genetics, molecular biology, cell biology and protein biochemistry methods and technologies.