Chromatin remodelling in Arabidopsis embryos during induction and release of seed dormancy

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Wim Soppe
• Subject Area: Plant Cell and Developmental Biology
• Term: from 2007 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 47468600

Seed dormancy is defined as the failure of a viable seed to germinate under favourable conditions. Besides having an adaptive role in nature by optimizing germination to the best suitable time, a tight control of dormancy is important in crop plants. Extensive physiological studies have identified the involvement of different factors, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this process are still unknown. Our lab aims to identify the molecular pathways that lead to induction and release of dormancy in Arabidopsis. As part of this approach, we are interested in the chromatin dynamics during this process and already obtained first indications for differences in chromatin structure between dormant and non-dormant seeds. In this proposed project, we will extend these observations to come to a full description of chromatin dynamics in embryos during induction and release of seed dormancy. We recently cloned the seed dormancy gene RD04, which encodes a RING finger protein that is required for histone H2B monoubiquitination. Histone H2B monoubiquitination is a prerequisite for histone H3 methylation at lysines 4 and 79 and is associated with actively transcribed genes in yeast. We intend to study the influence of RDO4 on histone modifications in Arabidopsis and identify its target genes. Overall; this project should define the role of chromatin remodelling in the order of events, leading to induction and release of seed dormancy.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants