Specificity in root barriers formation (B10*)

• Subject Area: Plant Cell and Developmental Biology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 232631280

The cork acts as a barrier protecting the root vasculature from the environment. We revealed that a set of MYB transcription factors regulate cork differentiation by promoting suberin deposition and repress-sing cork cambium activity. Interestingly, these MYBs regulate also endodermis differentiation and vascular cambium proliferation. We aim to elucidate the basis of MYB specificity across meristems and root barriers by studying tissue specific transcriptional responses and testing their ability in forming distinct protein complexes. Thus, our work will reveal similarities and differences among root barriers and between meristems paving the way for understanding specificity at organ/plant level.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1101: Molecular Encoding of Specificity in Plant Processes
• Applicant Institution: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Laura Ragni, Ph.D.