Project properties
Title Stem cell maintenance in the Arabidopsis root
Group Molecular Biology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 18-39
Supervisor(s) Renze Heidstra
Examiner(s) Dr R Heidstra (PDB/MOB)
Contact info renze.heidstra@wur.nl
Begin date 2014/11/01
End date 2024/10/01
Description All tissues are ultimately generates by the activity of stem cells. In the root of the model plant Arabidopsis a group of stem cells surround a mitotically inactive organizer, named Quiescent Center (QC). Both the activities of the parallel acting transcription factors PLETHORA (PLT) and SCARECROW (SCR) are required for the specification and function of the QC, and thereby the maintenance of the surrounding stem cell. Consequently, the respective mutants display short roots with loss of stem cells and consumed meristem. We have isolated the target genes of PLT2 and SCR specifically from the QC. Now we want to investigate the function of these genes regulated by PLT2 and SCR in the stem cell niche.
You will confirm the regulation of target genes, generate and analyze promoter-reporter fusions, and investigate the corresponding knockouts for phenotype. Together, these results should identify additional genes in the network required for root stem cell niche function.
Used skills Standard recombinant DNA technology such as DNA isolation, PCR and (Golden Gate) cloning.
Handling and transformation of model organisms; E.coli, agrobacterium, arabidopsis.
Gene expression analysis by way of quantitative RT-PCR.
Design and construct promoter-reporter(GFP) fusions.
Analysis of promoter activity in planta by confocal laser microscopy.
Analysis of gene knock-outs by way of PCR-genotyping and microscopy-phenotyping.
Construction of double mutants by crossing and analysis of these by the above methods.
Requirements For BSc thesis: MOB20306
For MSc thesis: MOB20306 and and MOB30306 or MOB31303 or MOB30806 or PHP30806 or equivalent