
Angenent Group – Plant Developmental Systems (PDS)
My research group is interested in how developmental processes are controlled by transcription factors and chromatin modifications. We aim to unravel transcriptional networks underlying various processes such as flowering time regulation, floral organ development, fruit formation and embryogenesis. We apply various methods, such as ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, proteomics, microscopy, CRISPR/CAS9 technologies and in vitro assays, to build gene regulatory networks and study the role of genes and proteins involved in these developmental processes. We are using predominantly the model species Arabidopsis and tomato, but also aim to understand to what extent the networks and genes are conserved in other species, including crops.
A main question of our research is: How do Transcription factors work and what are their target genes? To answer this question we are studying the properties of transcription factors belonging to the MADS domain, AP2-like or TCP transcription factor families. Since these transcription factors form larger complexes we analyse the components of the complexes by immunoprecipitation followed by MS/MS (Smaczniak et al, 2012). Furthermore, we are interested in the target genes that they control. A standard technology in our lab is ChIP-seq to identify in vivo binding sites. In addition we use in vitro methods, such as EMSA and SELEX to understand the specificity of binding to certain DNA sequences. Our results show that the composition of the transcription factor complex determines in part the binding specificity to target DNA.
We aim to identify downstream target genes by ChIP-seq and RNA-seq approaches and decipher their role in various developmental processes, such as flowering, flower, fruit and embryo development by genetic and molecular studies. A more recent focus of the group are studies to understanding the role of promoter elements (CIS regulatory elements) and how they control transcription. For this purpose we make mutations in promoters using CRISPR/Cas9, aiming at modulating gene expression in vivo.
Group members and teams
Embryogenesis group
Seed quality
Evolution transcription factor
Tomato Fruit development
Flowering control
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prof.dr.ir. GH (Richard) Immink
PI -
dr.ing. MA (Martijn) Fiers
researcher -
A (Amalia) Diaz Granados Munoz PhD
post-doc -
F (Francesca) Bellinazzo MSc
PhD student -
S (Suze) Blom
PhD student -
J (Judit) Nadal Bigas MSc
PhD student -
G (Gül) Hatinoglu MSc
PhD student -
J (Jacqueline) Busscher-Lange
technician -
M (Marco) Busscher
technician -
ing. F (Froukje) van der Wal
technician
Publications
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Dual specificity and target gene selection by the MADS-domain protein FRUITFULL
Nature Plants (2023). - ISSN 2055-026X - 13 p. -
Experimental rice seed aging under elevated oxygen pressure: Methodology and mechanism
Frontiers in Plant Science 13 (2022). - ISSN 1664-462X -
Twisting development, the birth of a potential new gene
iScience 25 (2022)12. - ISSN 2589-0042 -
Markers, snips and dimmers, the new world of plant breeding : Molecular and genetic knowlegde make huge leaps
In Greenhouses : the international magazine for greenhouse growers 11 (2022)3. - ISSN 2215-0633 - p. 38 - 39. -
BABY BOOM regulates early embryo and endosperm development
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 119 (2022)25. - ISSN 0027-8424 -
The TCP transcription factor HvTB2 heterodimerizes with VRS5 and controls spike architecture in barley
Plant Reproduction 35 (2022)3. - ISSN 2194-7953 - p. 205 - 220. -
Auxin biosythesis maintains embryo identity and growth during BABY BOOM-induced somatic embryogenesis.
Plant Physiology 188 (2022)2. - ISSN 0032-0889 - p. 1095 - 1110. -
FRUITFULL-like genes regulate flowering time and inflorescence architecture in tomato
The Plant Cell 34 (2022)3. - ISSN 1040-4651 - p. 1002 - 1019. -
Passiflora organensis FT/TFL1 gene family and their putative roles in phase transition and floral initiation
Plant Reproduction 35 (2022)2. - ISSN 2194-7953 - p. 105 - 126. -
Cellular and molecular basis of floral organs
Cellular and molecular basis of floral organs, Collaboration between Wageningen University & Research and Brazil p36-36, 2021-12-21, https://edepot.wur.nl/566277