Project properties
Title RNA binding proteins and their role in the germination of crop seeds at Bejo zaden
Group Plant Physiology, Laboratory of
Project type internship
Credits 24 – 39
Supervisor(s) Annika Liefferink, Frank Lanfermeijer
Examiner(s) Leónie Bentsink
Contact info Contact (email) Annika.liefferink@wur.nl
Begin date 2024/02/28
End date 2025/05/01
Description Description*
(Background info, aim of the project, optionally some further reading) At WUR, we are studying the role of RNA binding proteins in the germination of seeds. We think that the translation of mRNA to proteins plays a crucial role in regulating whether a seed will germinate or not, especially under stressful circumstances like drought, heat, or salinity. We have found a family of RNA binding proteins in our model species Arabidopsis that is especially important during seed germination, mutants that do not contain these proteins germinate better under stress.
Now it’s time to translate this important finding to other species, to ultimately improve germination of crop seeds. During the internship, you will determine if homologs of these genes are present in the genomes of the crops that are produced at Bejo Zaden and if their proteins play a role in optimization of the germination of their seeds under stressful circumstances and in seed longevity. To do so, you will identify the homologs of the Arabidopsis proteins in the Bejo crops through sequence and expression analysis. Furthermore you will explore whether mutants for these genes are available in the crops and whether they show germination phenotypes when sown under stress conditions.
Used skills Genome analysis, RNAseq analysis, phenotyping of germination
Requirements We are looking for someone with an affinity for seeds and seed germination, and a background in plant biology and/or bioinformatics who is interested in unravelling the mystery of seed germination and who is motivated to use that information to develop seeds that are more resistant to environmental stresses. You will be working with sequence data, RNAseq data and also in the lab to test the phenotypes of the mutant crop seeds.