Role of the UGF protein family during plant development

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Markus Schmid
• Subject Area: Plant Cell and Developmental Biology
• Term: from 2004 to 2008
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5435410

During postembryonic development plants undergo several dramatic phase changes. A good example is the switch from vegetative growth to flowering. During this event, the shoot apical meristem switches fate and starts producing flowers instead of leaves. We have studied this process on a global scale by expression profiling. We have identified a small, plant specific gene family, now called UGF, which is comprised of four members in Arabidopsis. The UGF genes are highly responsive to changes in photoperiod. We will study in detail how the UGF genes contribute to meristem identity and floral induction. To that end we will analyse the expression of the UGF genes and subcellular localization of the gene products. We will further create and analyse 'loss-of-function' and 'gain-of-function' alleles for all four UGF genes. We will also carry out a detailed analysis of the transcriptional regulation of the UGF genes. Finally, we will identify proteins that physically interact with the UGF proteins. The role of these proteins will be analysed. In the end we hope to integrate the UGF genes and interacting proteins in the network of meristem maintenance and floral transition.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants