Project properties
Title Penium margaritaceum as a genetic model to study the origins of auxin biology
Group Biochemistry, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 21-39
Supervisor(s) MSc. Vanessa Polet Carrillo C
Examiner(s) Prof. Dr. Dolf Weijers
Contact info Vanessapolet.carrillocarrasco@wur.nl
Begin date 2023/02/01
End date 2025/03/01
Description Plant hormones regulate growth and developmental processes in plants. Among hormones, auxin regulates these processes through transcriptional and non-transcriptional programs. In land plants, some mechanisms underlying these responses are well understood and involve a core set of components. However, besides phylogenetic information little is known about the evolutionary history of these components.
In this project we aim to study the conservation of the biological function of the Auxin response factor-like (ARF) proteins of streptophyte algae, a group of green organisms, that are closely related to the land plants. To accomplish this aim, we are developing genetic transformation methods in Penium margaritaceum that will allow us to target and modify genes efficiently and will help to reveal the function of the ARFs encoded in this algae. Initially, the methods will involve genome editing using LbCas12a ribonucleoproteins.
Used skills General molecular biology techniques (i. e. cloning), electroporation, cell culture of algae, bright-field/confocal microscopy.
Requirements Basic knowledge of (plant) molecular biology