OPTIMAE-PlantAlliance

OPTIMAE-PlantAlliance

Plants are constantly required to adapt to various biotic and abiotic constrains. They have developed various strategies allowing them to (i) detect pathogens and environmental modifications and (ii) adapt adequately to these changes. While genetic mechanisms of adaptation have been and are still widely studied, other mechanisms remain less studies, including the transcription and insertion of novel transposable elements (TE) in the genome.

In this project, we propose to generate genetic and epigenetic variability in apple and Arabidopsis thaliana using the BUNGEE protocol (breeding using jumping genes, developed by Etienne Bucher). This protocol uses 2 drugs (alpha-Amanitine and Zebularine) that provoke a temporary decrease of the Pol II enzyme activity and a decrease in global genome methylation,  allowing an increased transcription of Class I TE, followed by a boost in circular extrachromosomal DNA (formed by the Class I TE), and a de novo insertion of transcribed TE at several loci.

Through this project we propose to investigate the following questions:

1-    Are transcribed TE families stress specific?

2-    Are TE inserted randomly in the genome, or are the insertion sites localized preferentially in proximity to genes involved in the original stress response?

3-    Are plant tissues generated after stress recovery genetically uniform?  

Ultimately, the development of this protocol in apple could lead to the development of a new tool that could be used by breeders to improve the tolerance of their crops to particular stresses.