Epigenetics of transgenerational response to stress

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Plantsas sedentary organisms are not able to escape stress. Our previous research hasshown that the progeny of plants exposed to stress exhibit changes in physiologyand demonstrate a certain degree of stress tolerance and cross-tolerance.Although the mechanisms for the establishment and maintenance oftransgenerational responses are not clear, our previous work suggests a substantialinvolvement of epigenetic mechanisms such as changes in DNA methylation anddifferential expression of non-coding RNAs. Therefore, the aim of thisproject is to understand the role of epigenetic factors in transgenerationalresponses to stress and to decipher genetic and epigenetic changes that occurin plants after a multigenerational exposure to stress. Our experimental model willconsist of 25 consecutive generations of wild-type and mutant Arabidopsis thaliana plants propagated inthe presence of one of the stresses: heat, cold, salt or UVC. Mutant plantsinclude those mutated in various steps/mechanisms of recognition and DNA damagerepair and those mutated in various epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. Wehypothesize that after exposure of 25 generations of plants to stress, theprogeny will exhibit a certain degree of tolerance and cross-tolerance. We willuse various molecular, biochemical, biophysical and imaging techniques toidentify changes in plant physiology under normal conditions and in response tostress. Using next generation sequencing and molecular profiling techniquessupported by detailed bioinformatics analysis, we will identify changes in DNAsequence, DNA methylation and the expression of non-coding RNAs associated witha specific stress exposure and stress tolerance. This work is critical for the understandingof the mechanisms of stress adaptation. We believe that this knowledge can beapplied to identify specific QTLs and epiQTLs associated with stress toleranceand can be used to produce stress tolerant crops. The project will be verybeneficial to students and post docs, allowing them to obtain training inseveral disciplines, including plant stress physiology, imaging techniques, genetics,genomics, epigenomics, bioinformatics, and others.