Individual Research Project 7. Chromatin dynamics during germination under the supervision of Dr Aline Probst at the Institute of Genetics, Reproduction and Development (iGReD) in Clermont-Ferrand, France.

This project aims to understand the mechanisms and biological roles of chromatin reorganization during seed germination. Histone variants affect nucleosome stability and the deposition of histone post-translational modifications, and contribute to the control of gene expression. Specific histone variants and modifications characterize chromatin organization in the dry seed embryos and are hypothesized to be key players in the rapid transcriptome reprogramming during seed germination.

The aims of the project are:

  • To characterize chromatin organization in dry seeds, focusing on histone variants and histone modifications.
  • To investigate how chromatin organization is remodelled during seed germination and early seedling development under optimal and stress conditions.
  • To investigate the promising action of plant biostimulants in priming seeds for critical stress periods by studying how they modify chromatin organization during seed germination.

In this project, we will use the model species Arabidopsis thaliana and the crop species Brassica napus (oilseed rape). Available Arabidopsis mutant collections and transgenic lines carrying tagged histone variants will be used to mechanistically dissect chromatin dynamics in the germinating seed and to translate these findings to Brassica napus, for which plant material with different germination efficiencies will be provided by DSV.

Active collaborations are planned with partners at the CSIC in Madrid (Spain), the Sorbonne University (France) and the bioinformatics company Sequentia (Spain) in order to obtain not only specific training in molecular approaches and bioinformatics, but also intellectual input that will be valuable for the project

UCA -Host Institution

The University Clermont Auvergne (UCA) is a multidisciplinary higher education institution composed of 39 research laboratories working in the fields of fundamental and engineering sciences, life and health sciences as well as law, human and social sciences. Our laboratory is part of the Institute of Genetics, Reproduction and Development (iGReD), which is located in a modern building, inaugurated in 2017, and comprises state-of-the-art facilities in microscopy and image analysis, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, as well as high computing capacity and brand new plant growth facilities. The iGReD is composed of 15 research teams, 7 of which work on chromatin and epigenetics in Drosophila, mouse and plants. The iGReD provides a stimulating research environment with many graduate students and postdocs, weekly group and institute seminars.

Any questions?

Do you have any questions, or do you require additional information? Please contact: Dr Aline PROBST; aline.probst@uca.fr.