Investigating trafficking-related candidate genes involved in cell wall-mediated stress perception in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors
Nelly Braun (presenting author) [1]
Wiebke Haeger [1]
Steven Zwartkruis [1]
Francesco Saffioti [1]
Sara Morghen [1]
Thorsten Hamann [1]
Abstract
Environmental stresses such as drought are becoming increasingly frequent due to climate change, posing a serious threat to plant growth and agricultural productivity. To cope with these conditions, plants must rapidly perceive environmental changes and activate appropriate adaptive responses. The plant cell wall plays a central role in early stress perception, as alterations in cell wall integrity (CWI), mechanical properties, and turgor pressure occur at early stages of water deficit and other abiotic stresses. These changes are monitored by the CWI maintenance mechanism, which integrates mechanical and chemical signals to preserve cellular homeostasis. However, the molecular components and regulatory networks underlying this process remain poorly understood. This project aims to functionally characterize genes involved in CWI-mediated stress perception and signaling using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system. Candidate genes were identified through transcriptomic and phosphoproteomic analyses and screened using hypersensitivity assays under hyperosmotic stress and chemically induced cell wall damage. Promising candidates included a set of genes involved in intracellular trafficking. These trafficking-related genes will be investigated in more detail using expression pattern analysis, stress assays, and possibly complementary molecular and cellular approaches. By exploring the potential link between intracellular trafficking and environmental stress sensing, this project aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of early hydrosensing mechanisms in plants and tries to identify molecular components that may be relevant for improving drought resilience in crops.
Funding
No funding information was provided in the submission.