Functional, transcriptional and epigenetic investigation of circRNAs in cold response of A. thaliana

Objective

The rapid response to environmental stresses is essential for the survival of plants, especially in the light of climate change. To cope, plants have developed different response mechanisms to react to various stress factors. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have gained increased interest within the last 10 years. We have abundant data highlighting their regulation and their involvement in plant stress response, but even though around half a million plant circRNAs have been identified, only a handful has been further investigated for their functions and mechanics. This represents a huge knowledge gap in our understanding of how plant respond and survive environmental stress. After gaining first experience in circRNA identification during my PhD, I, together with the host Dr. Peter Kindgren, have planned the project CIRCA. CIRCA aims to identify and functionally characterize circRNAs in cold response of plants and to reveal transcriptional dynamics and epigenetic patterns at circRNA splice sites. I will identify circRNAs in cold response of Arabidopsis thaliana and investigate their sequence characteristics. In addition, I will unravel the functions by creation of mutants and monitoring phenotypic and transcriptional changes, identify interaction partners by pull-down assays and localize circRNAs. Importantly, I will elucidate transcriptional dynamics and epigenetic patterns like histone methylation regulate the formation of circRNAs. The proposed action will utilize my knowledge of circRNAs and molecular biology and gain new expertise in functional analysis and transcriptional dynamics in synergy with the host. Further training in communication, scientific and grant writing, teaching and professional skills like leadership, will prepare me for a leading position in academia or industry. The output of CIRCA will be of novel high impact, which can be used as a stepping stone for the development of more resilient crops, capable of overcoming the challenges of climate change.