Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | Role of B3 domain transcription factors in regulating root growth during dehydration stress response |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Ronita NagChaudhuri, St. Xaviers College, Kolkata, West Bengal |
Timeline Start Year : | 2022 |
Timeline End Year : | 2025 |
Contact info : | ronita.nc@sxccal.edu |
Details
Executive Summary : | The root system of a plant is crucial for its growth and adaptability, with the spatial configuration of roots being highly variable. Root system architecture (RSA) evolves during post-embryonic growth and involves genetic and epigenetic reprograming regulated by environmental cues. Roots are underground receptors that first sense different forms of abiotic stress, which are gradually integrated into their intrinsic root development program. This adaptive and ever-changing dynamism in root growth is essential for the health and vigor of above-ground biomass. Root development is dependent on the interplay of hormones and hormonal crosstalk, particularly the crosstalk between auxin and cytokinin. Polar transport of auxin and the generation of a proper auxin gradient are essential for efficient root growth. A coordinated interplay between auxin-cytokinin signaling forms one of the important bases of root initiation and development. A recent study found that RAV1, a B3 domain transcription factor in Arabidopsis thaliana, is negatively regulated by another B3 domain transcription factor ABI3, which occupied the RAV1 promoter proximal site and induced transcriptionally repressive histone modification marks like H3K27me3. Deletion of RAV1 promoted root growth and led to higher water retention capacity in response to dehydration stress. Preliminary results indicate that genes involved in auxin and cytokinin signaling are differentially expressed in roots of rav1 and abi3 plants compared to the wild type. These B3 domain transcription factors seem to be potential candidates for assimilation of environmental signals into hormonal crosstalks, effectively regulating root growth in response to specific cues. |
Co-PI: | Dr. Pranab Kumar Mondal, Indian Institute Of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, Assam-781039 |
Total Budget (INR): | 29,13,196 |
Organizations involved