Award details

Defining the role of PIF3-like bHLH transcription factors in the integration of light and cold signalling in Arabidopsis

Reference	BB/E000363/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Karen Halliday
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	University of Edinburgh
Department	Sch of Biological Sciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	306,958
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/11/2006
End date	30/04/2010
Duration	42 months

Abstract

We have recently discovered that cold and light control seed germination through the bHLH transcription factor SPATULA (Penfield et al., 2005 Curr Biol 15:1998-2006). SPT acts as a light stable repressor of seed germination and is required in dormant seeds for the repression of GA3 oxidase (GA3ox) gene expression. We have also shown that the related protein PIL5 represses seed germination and GA3ox expression in the dark, and have proposed a model whereby SPT and PIL5 form part of a regulatory network coupling seed germination and GA signalling to light and temperature responses. Our more recent unpublished data suggest that SPT and PIL5 act upstream of the DELLA proteins in the control of seed germination. SPT is also required post-germination in the phytochrome controlled cotyledon expansion response, which notably is also acutely temperature sensitive and is subject to DELLA control. SPT has high homology to the PIF-like bHLH transcription factors that play a key role in phytochrome- mediated light signalling. Over-expression of SPT leads to strong phyB-like phenotypes such as elongated hypocotyls. This begs the question as to whether the GA signalling based mode of action of SPT in seed dormancy control also operates at other stages in plant development. Furthermore, very little is known about the mode of action of the PIF-like bHLH TFs, and it is tempting to speculate that they also operate upstream of the growth restraining DELLA proteins. In this proposal we will build on the existing tools and complimentary skills in seed germination and PIF/phytochrome mediated signalling in the Graham and Halliday labs respectively to define the role of SPT and related bHLH transcription factors in the integration of light and cold signalling in Arabidopsis. This work should lead to further high impact publications and intellectual property that could be used to design strategies for the improvement of crop plant performance under sub-optimal environmental conditions.

Summary

Details provided by lead applicant: Professor Ian Graham, Biology Dept., University of York (Reference No. E242703)

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

Associated awards:

BB/E000541/1 Defining the role of PIF3-like bHLH transcription factors in the integration of light and cold signalling in Arabidopsis

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