B1: Transcriptional and epigenetic control of stem cell fate in plants

 

Jan Lohmann

 

In contrast to most animals, plants maintain pluripotent stem cells throughout their entire lives, which are embedded into dynamic stem cell niches. We will define the epigenetic and transcriptional states of plant stem cells and niche cells and study how these cells are reprogrammed by the activity of the homeodomain transcription factor WUSCHEL. In addition, we will study conserved and divergent mechanisms of stem cell control in plants and animals by comparing WUSCHEL and Zfh1, a Drosophila transcription factor, which shares significant similarity with WUSCHEL and has important roles in adult stem cell control.