Epigenetics of transgenerational response to stress

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Plants*as sedentary organisms are not able to escape stress. Our previous research has*shown that the progeny of plants exposed to stress exhibit changes in physiology*and demonstrate a certain degree of stress tolerance and cross-tolerance.*Although the mechanisms for the establishment and maintenance of*transgenerational responses are not clear, our previous work suggests a substantial*involvement of epigenetic mechanisms such as changes in DNA methylation and*differential expression of non-coding RNAs. Therefore, the aim of this*project is to understand the role of epigenetic factors in transgenerational*responses to stress and to decipher genetic and epigenetic changes that occur*in plants after a multigenerational exposure to stress. ***Our experimental model will*consist of 25 consecutive generations of wild-type and mutant Arabidopsis thaliana plants propagated in*the presence of one of the stresses: heat, cold, salt or UVC. Mutant plants*include those mutated in various steps/mechanisms of recognition and DNA damage*repair and those mutated in various epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. We*hypothesize that after exposure of 25 generations of plants to stress, the*progeny will exhibit a certain degree of tolerance and cross-tolerance. We will*use various molecular, biochemical, biophysical and imaging techniques to*identify changes in plant physiology under normal conditions and in response to*stress. Using next generation sequencing and molecular profiling techniques*supported by detailed bioinformatics analysis, we will identify changes in DNA*sequence, DNA methylation and the expression of non-coding RNAs associated with*a specific stress exposure and stress tolerance. This work is critical for the understanding*of the mechanisms of stress adaptation. We believe that this knowledge can be*applied to identify specific QTLs and epiQTLs associated with stress tolerance*and can be used to produce stress tolerant crops. The project will be very*beneficial to students and post docs, allowing them to obtain training in*several disciplines, including plant stress physiology, imaging techniques, genetics,*genomics, epigenomics, bioinformatics, and others.***