Doctoral position - Role of NTRC in acclimation of plants to low temperatures

Department/Institute: LMU Faculty of Biology, Plant Metabolism

Subject areas/Research fields: Botany and Plant Science, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Physiology, Systems Biology 

Keywords: cold acclimation, CP12, photosynthesis, proteomics, redox regulation

Name of supervisor: Prof. Dr. Peter Geigenberger

Project title: Role of NTRC in acclimation of plants to low temperatures

Project description:

Low temperature is an important factor for plant performance and distribution. In the cold, light energy absorption exceeds its metabolic utilization in the Calvin-Benson cycle (CBC) leading to photoinhibition. A decrease to sub-freezing temperatures leads to ice-formation and dehydration resulting in severe cellular damage. Acclimation of plants to low temperatures has been found to increase the freezing tolerance of cold-hardy plants, which is accompanied by a stimulation of photosynthesis and accumulation of soluble sugars. 

In our preliminary work, we identified the chloroplast redox-regulator NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductase C (NTRC) as a crucial mediator in cold acclimation. We discovered a previously unknown interaction between NTRC and the CBC Protein 12 (CP12) leading to redox-activation of the CBC by triggering the dissociation of an autoinhibitory PRK/CP12/GAPDH protein complex in the cold. It will be the aim of the project to analyze the underlying mechanisms and signaling components, using reverse genetics, metabolomics and redox proteomics in Arabidopsis thaliana.  

References:

Teh JT, Leitz V, Holzer VJC, Neusius D, Marino G, Meitzel T, García Cerdán JG, Dent RM, Niyogi KK, Geigenberger P/Nickelsen J (2023) NTRC regulates CP12 to activate Calvin-Benson cycle during cold acclimation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 120, e2306338120; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2306338120

For further information, please contact: 

Prof. Dr. Peter Geigenberger: geigenberger@bio.lmu.de

Research group website: 

https://www.en.botanik.bio.lmu.de/research/geigenberger/index.html

Apply: Please send your application through the online portal of the Graduate School Life Science Munich (LSM)