NUCLAGY | NUCLEAR DYNAMICS OF AUTOPHAGY IN PLANT IMMUNITY

Summary
Autophagy is a major degradation and renewal system that controls cellular homeostasis and stress adaptation in eukaryotes. Emerging evidence indicates that autophagy is an integral part of the plant’s defence against pathogens and thus, a promising target to improve disease resistance in crops. Research on plant autophagy has primarily focused on cytoplasmic targets and mechanisms, yet the degradation of nuclear components (nucleophagy) and the epigenetic regulation of autophagy have recently received growing attention in yeast and mammalian systems. Whether nuclear events are of similar importance for plant autophagy is unknown and therefore, the major question to be addressed in this project. The proposed research builds on my key finding that several isoforms of the Arabidopsis core autophagy protein 8 (ATG8) localize to distinct nuclear compartments. I aim to identify the nuclear ATG8 interactomes at normal and virus-induced conditions by affinity-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analysis. Candidate interactors will be functionally analysed for their potential role as transcriptional/epigenetic regulators, cargo receptors, and nucleophagic substrates in response to Cauliflower mosaic virus and Cabbage leaf curl virus. I will also investigate how these pathogens intersect with nuclear functions to manipulate cytoplasmic events of autophagy during infection. The proposed project will be carried out at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences under supervision of Prof. Daniel Hofius, a leading scientist and expert in plant autophagy and immunity. Hence, the project provides an excellent opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience to autophagy, while the host lab will benefit from my strong expertise in plant virology and epigenetics. Together, this synergistic effort will reveal fundamental insights into the nuclear dynamics of autophagy in plant immunity, and uncover novel autophagic mechanisms for crop improvement.
Unfold all
/
Fold all
More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/898053
Start date: 01-11-2020
End date: 25-04-2023
Total budget - Public funding: 203 852,16 Euro - 203 852,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

Autophagy is a major degradation and renewal system that controls cellular homeostasis and stress adaptation in eukaryotes. Emerging evidence indicates that autophagy is an integral part of the plant’s defence against pathogens and thus, a promising target to improve disease resistance in crops. Research on plant autophagy has primarily focused on cytoplasmic targets and mechanisms, yet the degradation of nuclear components (nucleophagy) and the epigenetic regulation of autophagy have recently received growing attention in yeast and mammalian systems. Whether nuclear events are of similar importance for plant autophagy is unknown and therefore, the major question to be addressed in this project. The proposed research builds on my key finding that several isoforms of the Arabidopsis core autophagy protein 8 (ATG8) localize to distinct nuclear compartments. I aim to identify the nuclear ATG8 interactomes at normal and virus-induced conditions by affinity-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analysis. Candidate interactors will be functionally analysed for their potential role as transcriptional/epigenetic regulators, cargo receptors, and nucleophagic substrates in response to Cauliflower mosaic virus and Cabbage leaf curl virus. I will also investigate how these pathogens intersect with nuclear functions to manipulate cytoplasmic events of autophagy during infection. The proposed project will be carried out at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences under supervision of Prof. Daniel Hofius, a leading scientist and expert in plant autophagy and immunity. Hence, the project provides an excellent opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience to autophagy, while the host lab will benefit from my strong expertise in plant virology and epigenetics. Together, this synergistic effort will reveal fundamental insights into the nuclear dynamics of autophagy in plant immunity, and uncover novel autophagic mechanisms for crop improvement.

Status

CLOSED

Call topic

MSCA-IF-2019

Update Date

28-04-2024
Images
No images available.
Geographical location(s)
Structured mapping
Unfold all
/
Fold all
Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.3. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
H2020-EU.1.3.2. Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
MSCA-IF-2019