Role of BBX proteins on JA signaling

• Grant number: 23/09524-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Support Program for Fixating Young Doctors
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Plant Genetics
• Agreement: CNPq
• Principal Investigator: Maria Magdalena Rossi
• Grantee: Bruno Silvestre Lira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/01373-7 - Role of BBX proteins on JA signaling, AP.R

Abstract

Plants integrate several environmental cues in order to proper coordinate growth, development, and defense. The coordinated response to the stimuli relies on the interconnection of the signaling pathways. Light is a major factor determining the development and several physiological processes, being the B-box proteins (BBX) a family of transcription factors that gained much attention as pivotal regulators of light signal transduction pathway. Although recent cumulative pieces of evidences indicate regulatory hubs connecting light and jasmonic acid (JA) response, controlling growth-defense trade-off, it is still poorly explored whether B-box proteins act as an integrator of both signaling pathways. To address this question, the role of tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, BBX in JA response will be addressed by analyzing the transcriptional profile of selected SlBBXs upon exposure to JA and of JA-related responsive genes in genotypes lacking SlBBXs. Moreover, SlBBXs biotic stress-related interactors previously identified by high throughput techniques will be validated. Finally, the role of the validated interactors on plant growth, yield and biotic stress response will be addressed in knockout genotypes. Collectively, this project aims to expand the knowledge regarding BBXs in the context of JA response, what may enable the generation of new biotechnology approaches to uncoupling light and JA responses to improve plant growth and defense.