The Generation Gap - understanding tissue communication during grain development

谷物为我们的食物供应提供的热量比任何其他来源都多。谷物也是麦芽和酿造的关键原料。尽管如此，我们对谷物是如何生长的知之甚少。在McKim实验室，我们使用大麦作为模型谷物来了解控制谷物发育的基因，我们的总体目标是提高谷物产量和质量。谷粒含有胚和胚乳，这两种子代组织被营养母体组织包围（1）。在发育过程中，母体组织降解，胚乳扩大积累大量的淀粉储备。胚、胚乳和母体组织相互交流以协调这一过程（1，2）。我们最近发现，转录因子编码基因的缺陷改变了母体消除的程度和时间，极大地改变了胚乳的大小和形状。在这个项目中，你的目标是找出这个基因是如何控制母体组织发育和谷物尺寸的。为了实现这一目标，您将使用最先进的成像技术和转录组学分析来了解该基因如何改变母体组织和胚乳细胞分裂和扩增以及基因表达。您还将使用和开发激素报告线，以评估该基因如何影响谷物组织中的激素信号。我们还将利用现有的突变体和CRISPR-Cas基因编辑技术来研究该基因的上游和下游调节因子。虽然在我们的实验室设在邓迪大学在詹姆斯赫顿研究所，你将执行这个项目在密切合作的研究小组助理教授马特塔克在澳大利亚阿德莱德大学。作为这项合作的一部分，你将花时间在塔克教授在阿德莱德的实验室。从这项工作中，您将学习作物基因组学，转录组学和成像的先进方法，并利用发育作物遗传学的最新工具。作为McKim实验室的一部分，您将被要求出席会议并与公众就您的工作进行交流。您将参加通用技能的研究生培训，将受益于植物科学部提供的独特培训环境，该部门位于詹姆斯赫顿研究所（JHI），世界上最好的谷物研究中心之一。这个项目将最适合谁拥有研究的热情和津津乐道的独立和新的经验的学生。理想的候选人还将热衷于为McKim实验室内的团队工作做出贡献。该博士项目将为成功的候选人提供可转移的实验室技能，作物开发研究经验和高度刺激的研究环境。(1)Baroux C，Grossniklaus U.种子-开花植物繁殖成功的进化创新基础。发育生物学的当前主题。2019;131：605-42. (2)Doll N.M.，Depe`ge-Fargeix N.，Rogowsky P.M.，和Widiez T.（2017年）。玉米籽粒发育早期的信号转导摩尔Plant.10，375-388

Cereal grain provides more calories to our food supply than any other source. Cereal grain is also a critical feedstock for malting and brewing. Despite this, we know little about how a cereal grain develops. In the McKim lab, we use barley as a model cereal to learn about the genes controlling grain development, with our overall aim to improve grain yield and quality. The grain contains an embryo and endosperm, both filial tissues, which are surrounded by nutritive maternal tissues (1). During development, maternal tissues degrade as the endosperm enlarges by accumulating large reserves of starch. The embryo, endosperm and maternal tissues communicate with each other to coordinate this process (1,2). We recently discovered that defects in a transcription factor-encoding gene changes the extent and timing of maternal elimination, dramatically altering endosperm size and shape. In this project, your objective is to find out how this gene controls maternal tissue development and grain dimensions. To address this objective, you will use state-of-the-art imaging technologies and transcriptomic profiling to understand how this gene alters maternal tissue and endosperm cell division and expansion and gene expression. You will also use and develop hormone reporter lines to assess how this gene may influence hormone signalling across grain tissues. We will also exploit existing mutants and CRISPR-Cas gene editing technologies to study upstream and downstream regulators of this gene. While based in our lab at the University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, you will execute this project in close collaboration with the research group of Assistant Professor Matt Tucker at the University of Adelaide, Australia. As part of this collaboartion, you will spend time in Prof Tucker's lab in Adelaide. From this work, you will learn advanced approaches in crop genomics, transcriptomics and imaging as well as exploit the latest tools in developmental crop genetics. As part of the McKim lab, you will be expected to present at conferences and engage with the public about your work. You will participate in post-graduate training in generic skills will benefit from a unique training environment offered by the Division of Plant Sciences, based at The James Hutton Institute (JHI), one of the best centres in the world to study cereals. This project would best suit a student who has a passion for research and relishes independence and new experiences. The ideal candidate will also be keen to contribute to group efforts within the McKim lab. This PhD project will give the successful candidate transferrable lab skills, experience in crop development research and exposure to a highly stimulating research environment. (1) Baroux C, Grossniklaus U. Seeds-An evolutionary innovation underlying reproductive success in flowering plants. Current topics in developmental biology. 2019;131:605-42. (2) Doll N.M., Depe`ge-Fargeix N., Rogowsky P.M., and Widiez T.(2017). Signaling in Early Maize KernelDevelopment. Mol. Plant.10, 375-388