Plants are inherently plastic organisms, and this property is critical for their survival. Their general body plan is genetically encoded, but plant architecture can be modified to adjust to the environment that surrounds it. In this sense, external cues, such as light, have a profound effect on the way a plant grows and develops, ultimately affecting a plant’s fitness, disease resistance and productivity. The phytochromes are a unique group of light receptors that enable plants to detect nearby vegetation and to adjust their growth and physiology to ensure survival in the face of competition. Intense scientific interest in this area has spurred the development of models that explain phytochrome action.
This project builds on recent discoveries in the Halliday lab, that significantly expand our understanding of phyA, one of the most important phytochromes. PhyA is currently thought to operate as a deep (vegetation) shade detector, in conditions which are typically dimly lit and have higher proportions of long wavelength far-red light. Recent data from the Halliday lab has shown phyA action is not restricted to deep shade, rather it is tuned to detect wide-ranging conditions. The lab has also shown phyA plays a pivotal role in a newly identified “shade survival response”. Collectively, our findings provide a new conceptual framework to understand phyA function.
The PhD will seek to uncover the molecular properties that enable phyA to respond to different environments and climatic conditions. This will be accomplished by interrogating the adaptability of phyA function through lab experiments, and by testing new hypotheses through model simulation. Genetic and molecular resources will be used to derive new mechanistic understanding of how phyA function changes in different light and temperature regimes. A range of nLUC-tagged constructs will allow dynamic in-planta tracking of phyA (and downstream signalling components). While the bulk of project will be experimental, this project provides opportunities to engage with theoretical modelling approaches. The project benefits from combined expertise from the Halliday (photochemistry, molecular signalling in plants) and Grima labs (mathematical modelling) who will provide training on model simulation. You will build core expertise in molecular-genetic analysis, and a range of techniques such as, gene editing, bioluminescence imaging, qPCR, chromatin immunoprecipitation, western blotting, co-immunoprecipitation, and an understanding of theoretical approaches. In addition to training in basic research, you will be offered career mentoring, and will have opportunities to gain broader experience in networking, outreach, and diversity and inclusion activities.
http://hallidaylab.bio.ed.ac.uk/
https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/ramon-grima
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