Competition of transcription factors in abiotic signalling

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Margarete Baier
• Subject Area: Plant Genetics and Genomics
• Term: from 2009 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 133754038

ERF1b-proteins are a family of eight AP2-type transcription factors in Arabidopsis thaliana. The DNA-binding domains are highly conserved, while the C- and N-termini are variable. The high similarity of the DNA-binding domains, the potential for complementation of DREBs and CBFs and the similarity of the experimentally verified DNA-binding sites with those of salinity-, drought- and ABA-regulated transcription factors indicate an integrative, complementary or competitive function of ERF1b/Rap2.4 proteins in abiotic stress signalling networks. In the proposed project, the Arabidopsis ERF1b/Rap2.4 proteins will be analysed in vitro for their redox sensitivity and their specificity to drought-, ABA and stress regulated DNA-binding motifs. In parallel, they will be characterized in planta for their physiological function and competition strength by comparison of T-DNA insertion lines, overexpressor lines and heterologous complementation lines.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants