Projects

Establishment of Embryonic Stem Cell Niches in Maize

Specification of stem cell precursor cells leading to the establishment of embryonic meristems occurs already at the 16-celled dermatogen stage in Arabidopsis. Gene regulatory networks required for cell specification include auxin regulated modules and homeodomain (HD) transcription factors. Compared with Arabidopsis, little is known about meristems establishment and organization during embryogenesis in cereals. Meristem initiation occurs much later, after symmetry breaking at the transition stage, and cereals contain an additional tissue, the embryo surrounding region (ESR), a specialized endosperm structure lacking in Arabidopsis, that may initially precent cell specification. This project therefore aims (i) to identify and study the role of auxin-modules at the transition stage of maize embryos, (ii) to elucidate the role of the ESR in early embryo patterning, (iii) to understand the role of the WUS/WOX gene regulatory networks for the establishment of embryonic stem cell niches and (iv) to identify the function and targets of the cereal-specific signal peptides that are secreted asymmetrically at the apical embryo domain at the transition stage.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Dresselhaus

Deparment of Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry
University of Regensburg (UR)

Dr. Guojing Jiang

Deparment of Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry
University of Regensburg (UR)

Marion Baumeister

Deparment of Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry
University of Regensburg (UR)