Targeted engineering of plant centromeres

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Andreas Houben
• Subject Area: Plant Genetics and Genomics ; General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology
• Term: from 2013 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 244949195

Engineered minichromosomes are highly desirable tools for analysis of plant chromosome function, biotechnology and plant breeding purposes. In preliminary studies, we have developed a method for the de novo generation of centromeres via the targeting of recombinant kinetochore proteins to tandem repeat arrays at non-centromeric positions and established a method for non-targeted chromosome truncation via telomere seeding in plants. Now, we aim to combine both methods for the generation of engineered minichromosomes. For this, targeted de novo centromere and targeted chromosome truncation will be applied as an experimental system in A. thaliana. Further, kinetochore assembly factors and the epigenetic setup which are required for efficient de novo centromere formation will be deciphered. The mitotic and meiotic activity of de novo centromeres will be determined.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants