Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre SAS
Topic
A molecular dissection of the roles of synaptotagmins in the ontogeny of terrestrial plants
PhD. program
Plant Physiology
Year of admission
2025
Name of the supervisor
doc. RNDr. Ján Jásik, DrSc.
Contact:
Receiving school
Prírodovedecká fakulta UK
Annotation
Plant synaptotagmins (SYTs) resemble animal synaptotagmins, known as calcium sensors in animal neurons. In the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana, the dominant AtSYT1 is involved in responses to various environmental stresses. The roles of other family members are poorly understood. The particular expression patterns of AtSYTs, observed in our previous studies, suggest that these genes are also involved in the development of specific tissues. We will focus on the AtSYT5 gene, and by complex analysis of its mutants and double mutants with other AtSYTs, we aim to determine in which developmental programs of higher plants the AtSYT genes are participated. Further, we will study homologues in the moss Physcomitrium patens and take advantage of the unique benefits of this model organism for the study of plant ontogeny. We will characterize the spatio-temporal expression pattern of PpSYT genes at different levels and analyze the distribution and intracellular dynamics of PpSYT proteins during different developmental stages. We will use homologous recombination to create plant lines with GUS and GFP markers and inactivate genes employing CRISPR/Cas9 techniques. Using reverse genetics, cell biology and biochemistry approaches, we will analyze the function of PpSYT genes during entire plant ontogenesis. The project will contribute to 5 understanding the role of SYT genes in the ontogenesis of higher and lower plants and the phylogenesis of the plant SYT genes.