Thesis supervisor: Zoltán Magyar
Location of studies (in Hungarian): ELKH, Biological Research Center Abbreviation of location of studies: SZBK
Description of the research topic:
In contrast to animals, the germline in higher plants differentiates from somatic cells at late stages of the life cycle but its regulation at the molecular level is less elaborated. Current data indicate that quiescence in differentiated plant cells are regulated by an evolutionary conserved transcriptional pathway called E2F-RBR. The RB-E2F network is remarkably conserved between the plant and animal kingdoms. The Retinoblastoma (Rb) was the first tumour suppressor identified from mammalian cells, and E2F transcription factors are the primary effectors of Rb action. In the analogy to animal systems, plant E2Fs have been classified as transcriptional activators (E2FA and E2FB) and repressors (E2FC), but recent development on the field indicated that they act redundantly to repress cell proliferation in complex with the single Retinoblastoma-related (RBR) during sporophyte development in model plant Arabidopsis. Our genetic analysis of the activatot-type E2Fs however revealed that their function is essential for gametogenesis, and it is associated to their conserved Marked-box (MB) region. In animals, the MB region mediates specific protein-protein interactions, and additionally possesses an alternate Rb-binding motif. We show that the MB region in E2FA and E2FB but not in E2FC has RBR-binding capability both in vitro as well as in vivo.
To investigate their roles during gametophyte development, we are going to generate transgenic Arabidopsis lines in the e2fab double mutant backgrounds (missing one or both MB domains in e2fab mutants) to identify the protein partners of E2FA and E2FB associated with their MB regions, and by using the transgenic lines generated in this proposed work we could also determine their direct target genes as well. By using translational GFP-tagged reporter lines we are going to follow the pattern of these regulators during germline differentiation. The project is going to be the first comprehensive analysis of the MB regions in the function of E2Fs, and our approach will provide new data helping to better understand the molecular mechanism controlling germline differentiation in plants.
Required language skills: English Recommended language skills (in Hungarian): English Further requirements: Learning the scientific background of the project. Basic knowledge in molecular biology (eg. work with DNA – cloning work, expression studies-, as well as with protein-western blot, immunoprecipitations), maintaining and propagating plants.
Number of students who can be accepted: 1
Deadline for application: 2021-09-01
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
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