How do plant signalling peptides get outside the cell? -Exploring PEP7 secretion with pharmacological tools
- Beschreibung
Plants use small signaling peptides to coordinate growth, development and responses to stress. But how do peptides produced inside cells reach the apoplast—the extracellular space where they activate receptors?
Our research focuses on PEP7, a peptide involved in lateral root primordium formation through sucrose-dependent signalling via the SIRK1-QSK1 receptor complex in Arabidopsis roots. We have observed its precursor, PROPEP7, at the tonoplast-the membrane surrounding the vacuole (see the graphical abstract in the PDF file). How PEP7 reaches the apoplast remains an open question.
In this project, you will use pharmacological inhibitors of secretion and membrane trafficking to investigate how PEP7 is released (“Secretion blocker” in graphical abstract PDF file). By treating plants with selected inhibitors and measuring PEP7 levels in tissue extracts and apoplastic polypeptides, you will help identify key steps in its release.
Interested in applying pharmacological approaches to plants?
Join us to explore an unresolved question in plant cell biology, gain hands-on research experience and contribute to our understanding of how plant cells communicate.
- Projektzeitraum
- Wintersemester 2026/2027
- Bewerbungszeitraum
- 12. bis 26.10.2026
- Durchführung
- semesterbegleitend
- Details zu Projektzeitraum und Durchführung
- We will carry out the project over the course of this semester.
- The PDF below provides reference materials, an overview of each experimental step and its estimated duration.
- We will also hold regular discussions and provide guidance at each step as the project progresses :-)
- Studienfach
-
Agrarbiologie
Agrarwissenschaften
Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics & Subtropics
Biologie
Biologie - Lehramt
Biotechnologiy
Crop Sciences
Environmental Protection and Agricultural Food Production
Medizinische Ernährungswissenschaft
Molekulare Ernährungswissenschaft - Betreuende
- Dr. Lin Xi, Hannah Nicola Kuhn
- Institut
- Institut für Biologie (190) (Systembiologie der Pflanze 190D)
- Sprache
- deutsch/englisch
- Teilnehmendenanzahl
- min. 1, max. 3
- Arbeitsaufwand
-
ca. 120 Stunden pro Teilnehmende:r
| 4
ECTS-Punkte
Arbeitsaufwand (Stunden und ggf. ECTS) sind ungefähre Angaben. Die tatsächlich vergebenen ECTS-Punkte ergeben sich aus der tatsächlich geleisteten Arbeit.
- Für dieses Projekt ist ein Motivationsschreiben des Studierenden erforderlich
- Projektart
- experimentell
- Lernziele
-
Die Teilnehmende lernen in diesem Projekt:
- Build a foundation in plant science by understanding how small signalling peptides function in plants.
- Gain hands-on experience in isolating and quantifying peptides and proteins.
- Extend current understanding of peptide and protein trafficking in plant cells through our project.
- Anmerkungen für Studierende
- Dokument
- Schlagworte
- Pflanzen