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Genetic and epigenetic regulation of life cycle progression in the model brown alga Ectocarpus – Epicycle
The objective of the Epicycle project is to elucidate the genetic and epigenetic processes associated with life cycle progression and the deployment of the sporophyte developmental program in the multicellular model brown alga Ectocarpus. The project combines detailed molecular characterisation of l
Genetic architecture of the tolerance to water deficit in a perennial fruit species (V. vinifera) – G2WAS
In perennial species, yield and production quality are impacted by water stress with marked interannual effects. The knowledge of the physiological and genetic mechanisms regulating grapevine responses to WD remain largely insufficient to adapt the viticulture to climatic challenges. Most often, res
Role of mycorrhiza-induced fungal transporters in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis – MYCOTRANS
Several transcriptional studies have revealed mycorrhiza-induced fungal membrane transport systems involved in K, N and P nutrition, but surprisingly, a member of the CDF (Cation Diffusion Facilitator) family was identified as the most mycorrhiza-induced transporter. So far, we have studied transpor
Deciphering the molecular switch of seed desiccation tolerance to improve plant stress tolerance – DEswitch
Le projet DEswitch vise à élucider le mécanisme d’activation/inactivation aboutissant à la tolérance à la dessiccation. See Scientific production section Functional validation of candidate genes controlling the desiccation tolerance Malabarba J., Windels D., Xu W., Verdier J. (2021-02-25). Regulatio
Live-tracking rhizobial switch from rhizosphere to plant-confined colonization modes – Live-Switch
Live-Switch aims to track with cellular resolution the early colonization of host roots by bacteria using transcellular or intercellular entry routes. Taking advantage of complementary model legumes systems, Medicago and Lotus, the project will combine live cell imaging, mutant analyses and mathemat
Deciphering in planta CHrOmatin dynamics of a Phytopathogenic fungus during INfection – CHOPIN
During infection, pathogens, including fungi, secrete an arsenal of molecules, collectively called effectors, key elements of pathogenesis. Leptosphaeria maculans is a pathogenic fungus infecting oilseed rape in two stages: an early stage on young leaves during autumn and a late stage on stems durin
New insights in the development and dynamics of floral nectar to improve the survival of insect pollinators and the pollination of cucurbits – NECTAR
The NECTAR project addresses the challenge of improving the current understanding of nectary development and nectar secretion in relation with pollinator foraging, key traits that impact fruit yield, its stability, and food availability for bees. To achieve this goal, we propose a multidisciplinary
Getting true Pluripotent Stem Cells in Pigs: a key step for large scale ex-vivo "Genotype to Phenotype" studies – PluS4PiGs
Current global changes (global warming, availability of agricultural resources, societal perception of animal husbandry, health importance of zoonoses) are forcing us to rethink our production systems. The pressure of animal production on ecosystems must be reduced, food and health security must be
Chromatin remodeling in regulation of chromosomal Crossing-Over and seed production – ChromCO
Intensive studies over the past decades have identified a number of genes involved in meiosis regulation in yeast, plants and animals. At the DNA molecular level, the generation of double-strand-breaks (DSBs), the processes of homologous recombination and CO formation are relatively well described.
Deciphering the EVOlution of biopolymers that shape plant apoplastic protective BARriers through the elucidation of underlying metabolic routes – EVOBAR
Land colonization by plants, about 500 million years ago, was one of the most formative evolutionary steps for terraformation. It paved the way for the development of complex terrestrial ecosystems and the emergence of new life forms. Upon transition from water to land, plants have been exposed to n
Molecular mechanisms of temperature sensing in plants – TEMPSENS
The initial objectives of the project were the design, production and purification of different constructs of ELF3, in particular the prion-like domain (PrD) region, which is essential for liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). The objectives for the first 18 mo. of the project focus on the in vitro
The gene set defining the diatom chloroplast – BrownCut
Diatoms are a major group of unicellular photosynthetic eukaryotes in aquatic environments. Evolutionarily, these algae are only distantly related to green algae and plants. Whilst these latter organisms are derived from the primary endosymbiosis of a cyanobacterium into a phagotrophic eukaryote, di
Deciphering the whole complexity of the Pacific oyster mortality syndrome for modeling epidemiological risk. – DECICOMP
The Pacific oyster (Crassostreae gigas) has been introduced from Asia to numerous countries throughout the world (including Canada, USA, Australia, New-Zealand, Chile, Argentina, France) during the 20th century. C. gigas is currently the main oyster species farmed in the world and represents more th
Adaptation mechanisms in food-fermenting Penicillium fungi – FUNGADAPT
Studying adaptive divergence, a key process in evolutionary biology, is essential for understanding the adaptation of organisms to their environment and how biodiversity arises. Domestication is a good model for studying adaptive divergence, as it involves strong and recent selection for known trait
Towards a comprehensive model of plant plasma membrane lipid bilayer – PLAYMOBIL
Elucidation of the molecular basis of plasma membrane organization appears necessary to understand how plants adapt to environmental changes. A crucial point in this respect concerns the asymmetry between the two PM sheets and their coupling, which is currently poorly described. This interdisciplina
Modulating the gene networks underlying phenotypic robustness in plant quantitative immunity – PRobIty
Our key hypothesis is that QDR robustness emerges at the global scale from the architecture of plant and pathogen gene networks, and involves conserved genes with diverse molecular functions. The rationale behind this research is based on our preliminary results showing that regulatory changes affec
The making of a pathogen : How Xanthomonas adapts to plant environments – XBOX
Plant pathogens threaten food quality, human health, economy, societies and ecosystems. These biotic interactions rely on complex response networks. We need to understand the structure and dynamics between the pathogen and its host at various levels of organization (molecule, cell, organism, agrosys
In vivo gynogenesis in maize: novel insights into plant double fertilization – NOT-LIKE-DAD
Sexual reproduction is key to the evolutionary success of higher eukaryotes. In all flowering plants, sexual reproduction is characterized by a unique biological process called double fertilization. Double fertilization consists of two separate, parallel fusion events between the two sperm cells and
Adaptation of Fungi to cheese – ArTIFICE
To address the fundamental question of whether evolution is repeatable or contingent, we need to study parallel adaptation, i.e. independent adaptation events to the same ecological niche. Cheese fungi are excellent models for parallel adaptation studies, as many distantly related species have been
Trade-off between growth and defense in durum wheat – TRADEOFF
This project has three objectives: (1) First, we assume that there are conditions under which growth and defence can be optimized. Our first objective is to better understand, under controlled conditions, the relationship between growth and defence triggered by different plant stimulants, with or wi
Understanding the mode of action of a pioneer transcription factor during symbiotic nodule development – PIOSYM
In eukaryotic nuclei, genomic DNA is compacted via chromatin in which DNA is wrapped around histone tetramers called nucleosomes. Most transcription factors (TFs) are unable to bind to their target sequences in compact chromatin regions or in the presence of nucleosomes. However, a group of TFs cal
Burkholderia Adaptation to multiple hosts: exploring frontiers between eukaryotic mutualist and pathogens for the development of risk assessment tools – BURKADAPT
Modern agriculture needs to change its practices in order to become more sustainable and to limit its impact on the environment by the heavy use of chemical inputs and the emission of greenhouse gases. Microbial inoculants that contain bacteria with plant growth promoting properties are among the so
Molecular bases of plant adaptation to manganese deficiency – DEFIMAN
Manganese (Mn) is a precious nutrient for plants, which use it as an enzymatic cofactor. Mn is associated to the active center of the photosystem II (PSII) and to the superoxide dismutase, thus potentially impacting the central cellular metabolisms of CO2 fixation and antioxidant response. Low avail
Cell membrane nanodomains: a role in plant osmotic signaling – CellOsmo
Climate change, world population growth and decrease in agricultural lands impose strong constraints on ecosystems, as is the case of water bio-availability. In the coming decades, it will be mandatory to adapt food production in a more thrifty way, as agriculture is the first user of fresh water st
Cationic Amino Acid Transporters in TROUT – CAAT-TROUT
A global policy, aiming to preserve wild fish stocks and biodiversity, has promoted aquaculture worldwide which became in 2014 the 1st fish supplier for human consumption. As a result of the increase of aquaculture activities, disadvantages of economic and ecological reasons appeared. Therefore, aqu
Role of epigenetic and tranScripTomIc modifications in inteRspecific hybRids In chaNginG the rules of crossover regulation: the Brassica model – STIRRER
Meiotic recombination is the main mechanism allowing reshuffling the genetic diversity at each generation. It is thus critical to the introduction of genes of interest into crops, and in the process of reducing their environmental footprint, while at the same time maintaining both yield and quality.
Deciphering the Functional Organization of Cross-kingdom 'metabolic factories’ in insect endoSymbiosis – FOCuS
Pesticides are intensively used to protect crops from pests. However, pesticides are known to increase pest resistance and affect the environment and non-target organisms, including humans, which points to the need for sustainable alternatives. Cereal weevils Sitophilus spp. are one of the main cere
A 3 Dimensional functional genomics approach to identify hidden targets controlling heat stress response in wheat – 3DWheat
Dans le projet 3Dwheat, nous proposons de suivre les changements du transcriptome, de l'épigénome et de la structure de la chromatine 3D chez le blé afin d'obtenir une image globale de la façon dont les changements au niveau de la chromatine sont associés aux changements de l'expression des gènes pe