Abschlussarbeit

Bachelor’s or Master’s Thesis Opportunity in Plant Molecular Biology

How do plants sense temperature?

Uncovering novel mechanisms of temperature sensing in plants

Rising temperatures pose a major challenge to agriculture and natural ecosystems, making it increasingly important to understand how plants perceive and respond to temperature changes. Recent research has identified prion-like domains (PLDs) as potential molecular thermosensors that can regulate protein behaviour and plant development in response to environmental cues. In this project, you will investigate how variation in PLD-containing transcription factors influences temperature-responsive growth in Capsella rubella. Using state-of-the-art molecular, genetic, and cell biological approaches, you will explore the mechanisms by which plants sense temperature and translate it into developmental responses.

Project

We are looking for a motivated Bachelor’s or Master’s student to join our research team and investigate how plants sense and respond to temperature.

Recent discoveries have identified a new class of protein domains, known as prion-like domains (PLDs), as potential molecular thermosensors. These domains can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation, allowing proteins to rapidly reorganize in response to environmental cues. The aim of this project is to understand how natural variation in PLD-containing proteins influences temperature-dependent growth responses in the model plant Capsella rubella.

Depending on your interests and project progress, you will address questions such as:

• How do plants detect changes in ambient temperature?
• How do prion-like domains regulate protein behaviour in response to heat?
• How does variation in these proteins affect plant growth and development?
• Can we identify novel genetic mechanisms that contribute to climate adaptation?

Experimental approaches

The project combines molecular genetics, cell biology, and plant physiology. Techniques may include:

• CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in Capsella rubella
• Molecular cloning and generation of transgenic plants
• Plant growth and thermomorphogenesis assays
• Confocal microscopy to study protein localization and dynamics
• Quantitative image and data analysis
• BiFC/FRET, ChIP-seq/RNA-seq

What you will gain:

• Training in modern molecular and cell biology techniques
• Hands-on experience with genome editing and plant transformation
• Experience with confocal microscopy and quantitative image analysis
• Opportunities to develop independent experimental designs
• Training in scientific communication and data interpretation
• Experience working in an international and interdisciplinary research environment
• The opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research addressing climate adaptation in plants

Who we are looking for

• We welcome applications from motivated students enrolled in Bachelor's or Master's programs in Biology or a related field.
• Previous experience with molecular biology, CRISPR, or microscopy is beneficial but not required.
• Enthusiasm, curiosity, and a strong interest in plant biology are far more important.

Research Environment

The project will be carried out in the group of Prof. Philip Wigge at the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ) in Großbeeren, Germany. The lab combines molecular genetics, cell biology, quantitative biology, and environmental physiology to understand how plants adapt to changing environments.

The work is embedded within the DFG-funded Collaborative Research Centre CRC 1644 – Phenotypic Plasticity in Plants, providing access to a vibrant network of researchers studying plant adaptation from molecules to ecosystems.

Interested students are encouraged to contact us with a short statement of interest and a CV.

Relevant papers:

Activation and memory of the heat shock response is mediated by prion-like domains of sensory HSFs in Arabidopsis. Peng M, Jaeger KE, Lu Y, Fan Z, Zeng W, Sampathkumar A, Wigge PA. Mol Plant. 2025 Mar 3;18(3):457-467. doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2025.01.007. Epub 2025 Jan 9. PMID: 39789846

A prion-like domain in ELF3 functions as a thermosensor in Arabidopsis. Jung JH, Barbosa AD, Hutin S, Kumita JR, Gao M, Derwort D, Silva CS, Lai X, Pierre E, Geng F, Kim SB, Baek S, Zubieta C, Jaeger KE, Wigge PA.Nature. 2020 Sep;585(7824):256-260. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2644-7. Epub 2020 Aug 26. PMID: 32848244

Temperature Sensing in Plants. Kerbler SM, Wigge PA. Annu Rev Plant Biol. 2023 May 22;74:341-366. doi: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-102820-102235. Epub 2023 Feb 28.

Application

If you are excited to explore how plants sense temperature, we’d love to hear from you! Please send us a short email explaining why you would like to join, along with your contact information, to wigge@igzev.de and gutsche@igzev.de