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Our results provide some testable hypotheses for how the observed variation on the pigmentation patterns may depend on subtle changes on specific biophysical parameters, opening interesting perspectives to understand the evolution of these mechanisms. We are performing detailed systematic analysis of gene expression and pigmentation images for B. anynana. With these quantitative data, we are implementing a classification system for wild-type and mutant phenotypes and also calibrating the theoretical models. The preliminary results suggest that the eyespot size is regulated by the shape and amplitude of the morphogen concentration gradient, while the eyespot colour composition is regulated by gene-specific network regulatory parameters. A C B D MODELLING GENE REGULATION IN DEVELOPMENT AND EVOLUTION. A - Bicyclus anynana. B - Results from the theoretical models. Image analysis of C adult pigmentation and D gene expression patterns. IGC ANNUAL REPORT ‘11 RESEARCH FELLOWS 70
PLANT GENOMICS Jörg Becker Research Fellow PhD in Biology, University of Bielefeld, Germany, 2001 Post-doc, IGC, Portugal Head of IGC Gene Expression Unit Research Fellow at the IGC since 2008 Our group is interested in the mechanisms underlying sexual reproduction and early embryogenesis with a particular focus on the role of the male gametes. Recent studies have shown that male gametes both in the plant and animal kingdom carry complex sets of RNA molecules, including not only mRNAs but also small RNAs. We are particularly interested in the role of these two RNA classes before, during and after double fertilisation as it occurs in higher plants. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as our primary experimental model we are addressing specific questions like: 1. What are the functions of small RNA and DNA methylation pathways in sperm cells? 2. Do sperm cell-derived RNAs play a role after fertilisation? 3. Do conserved core sets of genetic modules underlie common characteristics of male gametes across kingdoms? In addition we are interested in identifying gamete-expressed proteins with functions in signalling events assuring double fertilisation and initiation of embryogenesis. GROUP MEMBERS Leonor Boavida (Post-doc) Filipe Borges (External PhD student) Patrícia Pereira (External PhD student) Marcela Coronado (External PhD student, started in February) Francisco Sousa (Trainee, started in June) COLLABORATORS Rob Martienssen (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, USA) Keith Slotkin (Ohio State University, USA) Ignacio Rubio Somoza (Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Germany) Rui Gardner (IGC, Portugal) José Feijó (IGC, Portugal) Ji He (The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, USA) Carlos Plancha (Cemeare Lda, Portugal) Sheila McCormick (US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service, USA) Liam Dolan (Department of Plant Sciences; University of Oxford, England) FUNDING Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal FP7 Marie Curie International Reintegration Grant, European Commission FP7 Marie Curie Action: "Networks for Initial Training", European Commission THE ROLE OF SPERM DERIVED microRNAs DURING DOUBLE FERTILISATION IN ARABIDOPSIS The world’s current food supplies rely almost exclusively on double fertilisation as found in higher plants and characterised by the fusion of two male gametes (sperm cells) with two female gametes (egg cell and central cell), giving rise to the embryo and the endosperm. Thus a better molecular understanding of double fertilisation will eventually provide the tools to improve crops. Micro- RNAs (MiRs), as essential regulators in development processes and hormone responses, are likely to play a role in sexual reproduction. Our deep sequencing data of small RNAs from Arabidopsis sperm cells and pollen indicate that these express MiRs belonging to dozens of microRNA families, with a number of them showing higher expression levels in sperm cells than in pollen. We are analysing the role these sperm cell MiRs might play for sperm cell viability and, if being delivered to the female gametes upon fertilisation, for the regulation of early embryogenesis and endosperm development. We continued to address the potential role of MiRNAs in sperm cells using target mimics and global inhibitors of small RNA pathways. Moreover, using a novel FACS protocol (manuscript in prep), we isolated Arabidopsis microspores as well as vegetative nuclei and sperm cells from mature pollen. By deep sequencing of bisulphite converted genomic DNA from these three sample types we gained important new insights into epigenetic changes occurring during microgametogenesis (manuscript in prep). IDENTIFICATION OF CONSERVED GERM CELL SPECIFIC MODULES AS POTENTIAL PRECURSORS OF TOTIPOTENCY Germ cell differentiation gave rise to all sexually reproducing organisms, but along their evolution, several species developed distinct spatial and temporal control over germline proliferation. The gametes are the end products of the germ cell lineage, and transfer ultimately to the zygote their unique totipotent potential, capable of giving rise to an entirely new organism. Despite the variety of mechanisms distinguishing germ cell differentiation and fertilisation strategies in plants and animals, the molecular pathways towards totipotency are likely to remain conserved in form of a core set of genetic modules underlying the totipotent potential of the gametes. This project focuses on the identification of this conserved core set through the functional analysis of transcripts encoding orthologue gene products in male gametes of plant, human and fly. TRANSGENIC ARABIDOPSIS EXPRESSING GAMETE-SPECIFIC TETRASPANINS. Upper panel - GFP localisation in the plasma membrane of sperm cells (sperm nuclei mRFP). Bottom panel - Detail of GFP localisation in plasma membrane of female gametophytic cells: egg cell (right) and synergid cells (left). IGC ANNUAL REPORT ‘11 RESEARCH FELLOWS 71
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The Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciênci
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ORGANISATION CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN FO
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established a unique and diverse hu
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After all these years of a half-dis
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IGC ANNUAL REPORT ‘11 THE DIRECTO
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30 Nationalities working at the IGC
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2004 - 2011 NEW RESEARCH GRANTS BRE
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PROTEIN-NUCLEIC ACIDS INTERACTIONS
Page 19 and 20: MEIOSIS AND DEVELOPMENT Vítor Barb
Page 21 and 22: EPIGENETICS AND SOMA Vasco M. Barre
Page 23 and 24: VARIATION: DEVELOPMENT AND SELECTIO
Page 25 and 26: as a manuscript submitted in 2011 (
Page 27 and 28: We have found a new precursor struc
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Page 31 and 32: POPULATION AND CONSERVATION GENETIC
Page 33 and 34: NEUROBIOLOGY OF ACTION Rui M. Costa
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Page 37 and 38: CELL BIOPHYSICS AND DEVELOPMENT Jos
Page 39 and 40: GENOME-WIDE ANALYSIS OF TELOMERE PR
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Page 43 and 44: ACTIN DYNAMICS Florence Janody Prin
Page 45 and 46: EPIGENETIC MECHANISMS Lars Jansen P
Page 47 and 48: SYSTEMS NEUROSCIENCE THIS GROUP IS
Page 49 and 50: PATTERNING AND MORPHOGENESIS Moisé
Page 51 and 52: EARLY FLY DEVELOPMENT Rui Gonçalo
Page 53 and 54: BEHAVIOURAL NEUROSCIENCE THIS GROUP
Page 55 and 56: DISEASE GENETICS Carlos Penha Gonç
Page 57 and 58: COMPUTATIONAL GENOMICS José Pereir
Page 59 and 60: COMPLEX ADAPTIVE SYSTEMS AND COMPUT
Page 61 and 62: hypothesis that expression of HO-1
Page 63 and 64: hemocyte purification using a combi
Page 65 and 66: EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS Henrique Teot
Page 67 and 68: BACTERIAL SIGNALLING Karina B. Xavi
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Page 73 and 74: NETWORK MODELLING Claudine Chaouiya
Page 75 and 76: NEURONAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION Inb
Page 77 and 78: NEUROETHOLOGY LABORATORY THIS GROUP
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Page 81 and 82: IMMUNE REGULATION Carlos E. Tadokor
Page 83 and 84: STRESS AND CYTOSKELETON Escola Supe
Page 85 and 86: ANIMAL FACILITIES Jocelyne Demengeo
Page 87 and 88: TRANSGENICS UNIT Moisés Mallo Head
Page 89 and 90: CELL IMAGING UNIT José Feijó Head
Page 91 and 92: GENOMICS UNIT Carlos Penha Gonçalv
Page 93 and 94: • Low noise (6 Rat arrays for Ins
Page 95 and 96: ION DYNAMICS FACILITY Ana Catarina
Page 97 and 98: BIOINFORMATICS AND COMPUTATIONAL BI
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Page 119 and 120: IGC ANNUAL REPORT ‘11 PUBLICATION
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António Coutinho Professional Meri
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GRADUATE TRAINING AND EDUCATION
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Cells to organisms I 24 - 28 Octobe
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INDP - INTERNATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE D
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Extroduction 30 May - 3 June Organi
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PROGRAMME FOR ADVANCED MEDICAL RESE
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GTPB - THE GULBENKIAN TRAINING PROG
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THESES MSc THESES Sofia Pereira Dev
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SEMINARS AT THE IGC JANUARY 2011 DA
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MARCH 2011 DATE SPEAKER AFFILIATION
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MAY 2011 DATE SPEAKER AFFILIATION T
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JULY 2011 DATE SPEAKER AFFILIATION
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OCTOBER 2011 DATE SPEAKER AFFILIATI
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DECEMBER 2011 DATE SPEAKER AFFILIAT
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On the origin and diversification o
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HELENA COSTA Mechanism of IL-8 indu
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Of models and mechanisms of ion dyn
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The centromere: A showcase for epig
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Mechanisms determining adult body s
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The evolutionary dynamics of (Rab)
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HENRIQUE TEÓTONIO The genetic basi
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EMBnet - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 201
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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN SCIENCE
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Science Projects Support Programme
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FUNDRAISING Maria João Leão Head
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PARTNERS AND SPONSORS Several partn
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