Project Details
Projekt
Evolution of regulatory TGA/ROXY functions and impact of redox processes in sexual reproduction of land plants
Applicants
Dr. Nora Gutsche; Professorin Dr. Sabine Zachgo
Subject Area
Plant Cell and Developmental Biology
Evolution and Systematics of Plants and Fungi
Evolution and Systematics of Plants and Fungi
Term
since 2025
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 431732981
The evolution of a terrestrial flora transformed the Earth’s surface and atmosphere, coinciding with a remarkable diversification of land plants. Biochemical and morphological innovations mediated adaptations to novel abiotic and biotic challenges and increased the developmental complexity, particularly of sexual reproduction processes. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these innovations, we aim to understand the evolution of the corresponding regulatory networks throughout land plant evolution. TGA transcription factors (TFs), found in all streptophytes, are known to control stress responses as well as developmental processes, such as flower formation in Arabidopsis thaliana. TGA TFs act together with ROXYs, which are land plant-specific glutaredoxins, known to modify thiol groups of their target proteins. These post-translational protein modifications depend on the cellular redox status and are often mediated via reactive oxygen species (ROS), acting as small signaling molecules in diverse processes. Recently, we have shown that the single TGA TF MpTGA is a key regulator of sexual reproduction in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. MpTGA exhibits a redox-sensitive binding to DNA motifs, both alone and together with the MpROXY1 and MpROXY2 co-regulators. Analyzing the activities of the two MpROXYs and novel Arabidopsis ROXY family members controlling sexual reproduction will unveil the diversification of ROXY functions during reproductive processes. Furthermore, the impact of dynamic redox processes during sexual development in Marchantia will be investigated utilizing redox sensors. By combining functional studies along with transcriptomic, metabolomic and sensor analyses, we aim to unravel redox-related TGA TF functions and their functional diversification in sexual reproduction during the evolution of land plants.
DFG Programme
Research Units
