Project properties
Title Investigating alternative splicing in salt stress responses
Group Plant Physiology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 30-39
Supervisor(s) Jenny Saile
Examiner(s) Prof. Dr. Christa Testerink
Contact info thesis.PPH@wur.nl & jenny.saile@wur.nl
Begin date 2025/11/01
End date 2026/05/01
Description Salt stress is one of the major abiotic factors limiting plant growth and productivity, contributing significantly to crop losses worldwide. To help improve global food security, our project aims to develop plants with enhanced resilience to salt stress. We are exploring a novel approach centered on the modulation of alternative pre-mRNA splicing, which is a post-transcriptional mechanism that generates multiple mRNA isoforms from a single gene. Alternative splicing plays an important role in how plants respond to abiotic stresses, including salt stress. However, the upstream regulators, their target genes, and the mechanisms by which they influence salt tolerance remain largely unknown. Preliminary experiments in our lab have already identified promising upstream candidate genes, which are currently being characterized in more detail. As part of this project, you will contribute to the investigation of these candidates in the context of salt-regulated alternative splicing and plant salt tolerance.
Used skills Cloning, selection of transgenic Arabidopsis plants, segregation analyses, CRISPR genotyping, phenotyping (root and shoot growth parameters), RNA isolation, RT-qPCR, co-amplification PCR, iCLIP, microscopy. Other techniques may be involved depending on the mutual interest of students and supervisor.
Requirements Basic knowledge of plant physiology and molecular biology, creative and critical thinking.