European Plant Embryology Consortium

胚胎发生奠定了植物身体的基础，胚胎后发育以重复的方式在其上展开。拟南芥的早期胚胎是一个非常适合研究关键发育调控因子及其作用环境的系统，因为细胞数量有限，而且它们的分裂模式是可预测的。这一合作研究项目(CRP)研究了胚胎发育早期连续发生的四个关键分化事件的分子机制：(1)胚胎特性与胚胎外特性的差异指定，(2)表皮与内部细胞的产生，(3)维管组织和地面组织前体的形成，以及(4)茎和根特性的指定，包括它们各自的干细胞系统。我们将使用之前确定的这些事件的关键监管机构作为起点，并确定它们采取行动的背景。我们还将进行全基因组方法，包括在突变胚胎中进行转录谱分析和染色质免疫沉淀，然后进行下一代测序，以确定关键转录调控因子的结合位点和具有生物学意义的靶基因。此外，我们将使用独立的细胞类型特定转录组分析方法来帮助定义这些关键分化事件的全球分子图景。最后，我们将把microRNA介导的转录后调控描述为早期胚胎发育中的一种新的调节层。这项合作将确定管理胚胎细胞分化事件和它们之间相互作用的监管框架。除了先进的全基因组方法外，还将使用遗传分析以及3D和活体胚胎成像来确定新发现的调控因子在早期胚胎模式中的作用。该联盟由五个国际合作伙伴组成，每个合作伙伴在研究胚胎发育决策方面都有良好的记录。合作伙伴实验室在确定构成这一CRP起点的关键发育调控因素方面发挥了重要作用。虽然所有合作伙伴都对了解植物早期胚胎发生有着浓厚的兴趣，但他们研究的关键步骤不同，并具有互补的方法学专业知识。研究结果、材料和技术将在合作伙伴之间共享，为剖析发展决策创造一个共同基础。协调个人努力对于防止工作重复至关重要，并将有助于查明发展步骤之间的联系。这一合作项目将有助于组织和巩固一个具有竞争力的欧洲研究基地，以研究植物发展的最基本组成部分。这将是全面了解植物生命中最早的形成事件的唯一途径，并将为植物育种、繁殖和生物技术中的合理应用提供急需的基础。

Embryogenesis lays down the foundations of the plant body on which postembryonic development elaborates in a repetitive manner. The early embryo of Arabidopsis is a highly suitable system to study key developmental regulators and the context in which they act because of the limited number of cells and their predictable division patterns. This collaborative research project (CRP) addresses molecular mechanisms underlying each of four critical differentiation events that occur consecutively in early embryogenesis: (1) differential specification of embryonic identity versus extra-embryonic, (2) generation of epidermis versus inner cells, (3) formation of vascular tissue and ground tissue precursors, and (4) specification of shoot and root identity including their respective stem-cell system. We will use previously identified key regulators of these events as starting points and identify the context in which they act. We will also perform genome-wide approaches, including transcript profiling in mutant embryos and chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by next-generation sequencing to identify binding sites and biologically meaningful target genes of key transcriptional regulators. Furthermore, we will employ independent cell-type specific transcriptome profiling approaches to help define the global molecular landscape of these key differentiation events. Finally, we will characterize microRNA-mediated post-transcriptional control as a novel layer of regulation in early embryogenesis. This collaboration will identify regulatory frameworks governing embryonic cell differentiation events and interactions between them. In addition to the advanced genome-wide approaches, genetic analysis as well as 3D- and live embryo imaging will be used to define the role of newly identified regulators in early embryonic patterning.The consortium comprises five international partners each with a strong record in studying developmental decisions in the embryo. The partner labs have been instrumental in identifying the key developmental regulators that form the starting point of this CRP. While sharing a strong interest in understanding early plant embryogenesis, all partners study a different key step and have complementary methodological expertise. Findings, materials and technologies will be shared among the partners to create a common basis for dissecting the developmental decisions. Coordination of individual efforts is critical to prevent duplication of work and will enable identification of links between developmental steps. This collaborative project will help to organize and consolidate a competitive European research base for studying the most fundamental building blocks of plant development. This will be the only way forward in generating a comprehensive understanding of the earliest formative events in plant life, and will provide the much-needed basis for rational applications in plant breeding, propagation and biotechnology.