Plants constantly encounter changing environmental conditions that affect their growth, development and productivity. How plants sense, transduce and respond to their environment is of tremendous significance for the future of agriculture. Changes in their environment demand rapid changes in gene expression to allow for adaptation and protection against damaging conditions. The modulation of gene expression in response to stress is mediated by transcription factors. However, regulation of chromatin organization is most likely of equal importance.
Previously we have provided evidence that the SWI/SNF-type chromatin remodeling gene plays a role in growth arrest responses to abiotic stress. In addition, we have strong indications for its involvement in developmental processes where temporary growth arrest takes place, such as maturation at late embryogenesis. Knowledge of the molecular basis of late embryogenesis is still limited, but there is gathering evidence that chromatin remodeling is plays a regulatory role in this process. In this project we aim to elaborate on this hypothesis. We hypothesize that the same chromatin remodeling genes could be involved in growth arrest responses upon stress as in the induction of dormancy during the maturation stage of late embryogenesis. The understanding the chromatin regulation of growth arrest after stress could provide practical applications for dormancy induction in somatic embryos. |
