Projects

Control of the Entry into the Female Germline in Maize

A major developmental phase transition in eukaryotes is meiosis, a specialized cell division essential for sexual reproduction and key to biological diversity. The decision of when and which cells undergo meiosis is tightly controlled. In contrast to animals, that specify a germline early during embryogenesis, flowering plants reprogram somatic cells in reproductive organs late in development to produce stem cell-like cells from which an archesporial cell is selected, a meiocyte is derived and with that initiate a germline.

Very little is known about the molecular mechanism of germline initiation in plants. Here, we will study the cellular specification events that lead to the formation of female meiocytes in the crop species maize. We will first generate a cytological framework of germline entry by the observation of reporter lines and by establishing a live cell imaging approach. In close collaboration with the other members of the research unit, this work will be complemented by single cell sequencing of young ovule cells to follow their developmental trajectories during germline establishment. Finally, we will challenge germline differentiation by specific gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches. Together with the other consortium members, we will develop an integrated view on the initiation, maintenance and termination of stem cell-like cells during crop development.

Prof. Dr. Arp Schnittger

Department of Developmental Biology
University of Hamburg (UHH)

Dr. Martina Balboni

Department of Developmental Biology
University of Hamburg (UHH)