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Spatio temporal analysis of expression of genes controlling assymetric stem cell division and tissue patterning in plants

Project

Project Details

Program
Plant Science
Field of Study
​Plant Biology​
Division
Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering
Faculty Lab Link
https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/study/faculty/ikram-blilou
Center Affiliation
Center for Desert Agriculture

Project Description

BIRDs nuclear factors have been described to regulate root growth through association with the transcription factors SCARECROW and SHORTROOT, however their function in other organs remain to be elucidated. Here we propose to dissect network function in lateral roots and leaves. We will determine their physical associations spatially and during different developmental stages. We will also assess whether their target are regulated similarly.Objectives: In this project we aim to dissect how BIRD proteins regulate leave tissue patterning and map their localization in different mutant backgrounds. In addition, we will dissect binding sites in different target genes and alter specific binding by site directed mutagenesis. Technologies: confocal imaging microscopy, site directed mutagenesis, promoter activities using dual luciferase, plant phenotyping, cloning using gateway technology ​

About the Researcher

Ikram Blilou
Professor, Plant Science
Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division

Affiliations

Education Profile

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Genetics, Utrecht University, Netherlands, 1998-2003
  • PhD, CSIC and University of Granada, Spain, 1998
  • BSc Biology, University Abdelmlek Essadi, Morocco, 1994

Research Interests

Professor Blilou' s research focuses on how plant cells communicate to transfer positional information and to instruct specific functions during pattern formation. This involves studying regulatory networks that control protein movement and asymmetric cell division in plant roots, by mapping protein complexes in vivo at the cellular resolution, and by unraveling how their distinct spatial distribution leads to specific gene expression and proper cell fate acquisition. Professor Blilou's research group also aims to understand molecular mechanisms of growth/defense trade-offs in plants by unraveling how the same set of developmental genes can regulate defense response under stress conditions. The team also intends to understand adaptive strategies used by desert plants (using date palms as a model) to survive in hostile conditions.

Selected Publications

  • The Arabidopsis HOBBIT gene encodes a CDC27 homolog that links the plant cell cycle to progression of cell differentiation, Blilou, I. Frugier, F., Folmer, S., Serralbo, O., Willemsen, V., Wolkenfelt, H., Eloy, NB., Ferreira, PC., Weisbeek, P., Scheres B., Genes and Developement, 2002, 16:2566-75.
  • The PIN auxin efflux facilitator network control growth and patterning in Arabidopsis roots, Blilou, I., Xu, J., Widwater, M., Willemsen, V., Paponov, I., Friml, J., Heidstra, R., Aida, M., Palme, K., Scheres, B., Nature, 2005, 433. 39-44.
  • A bistable circuit involving SCARECROW-RETINOBLASTOMA integrates cues to inform asymmetric stem cell division, Cruz-RamA­rez A, DA­az-TriviA±o S, Blilou I, Grieneisen VA, Sozzani R, Zamioudis C, Miskolczi P, Nieuwland J, Benjamins R, et al, Cell, 2012, 150: 1002a-1015.
  • The zinc finger BIRD proteins jointly stabilize tissue boundaries by confining the cell fate regulator SHORT-ROOT and contributing to fate specification in Arabidopsis, Long, Y., Smet, W, Cruz-RamA­rez, A, Castelijns, B., de Jonge, W, MA¤hA¶nen, AP., Bouchet, BP., Sanchez Perez, G., Akhmanova, A., Scheres, B., Blilou, I., Plant Cell, 2015, 27, 1185a-1199.
  • In vivo FRET-FLIM reveals cell type-specific protein interactions in Arabidopsis roots, Long, Y., Stahl, Y., Weidtkamp-Peters, S., Postma, M., Zhou, W., Goedhart, J., Gadella, TWG Jr, Simon, R., Scheres, B & Blilou, I., Nature, 2017, 548: 97a-102.

Desired Project Deliverables

​Map the expression of the genes at different developmental stages and dissect thein binding motifs
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