Identification and analysis of factors upstream and downstream of the CUC genes during the development of the leaf

The NAM/CUC genes were initially identified for their role in the specification of the boundary domains around organ primordia in the shoot apical meristem before being recently recognized as essential actors in leaf development. They are expressed in a specific pattern in the leaf margin and are necessary for its dissection, which according to the species can take the shape of fine serrations, lobes or separations between leaflets of compound leaves. NAM/CUC genes form a small group of genes having distinct roles during leaf developement and some of them are regulated at the post-transcriptionnal level by a microRNA, miR164 encoded by the MIR164a gene. Despite their central role during leaf development, the factors upstream and downstream from the CUC genes remain far from known. The objective of this thesis is double: i) identify cis and trans factors contributing to the specific pattern of CUC2 and MIR164a expression druing leaf development and ii) identify targets of the CUC transcription factors in order to better understand how they control leaf margin development. This project is fully integrated in the group’s project and will provide a molecular perspective to modelling and evo-devo approaches that are already developped within the group.

PhD subject IJPB 2011 from research group Transcription factors and architecture