StressNet

Membrane remodeling under stress: characterization of protein determinants and interaction networks
PTDC/BIA-FBT/32013/2017

It is known that crops quality and productivity is rapidly decreased in stress-causing situations like drought, salinity, temperature and metal intolerance. This project is indeed based on the working hypothesis that the cell ability to modulate its membrane trafficking pathways through remodelling of the functional organisation of the endomembrane network, creation of new compartments, and regulation cell ionic homeostasis are key points in the adaptation to diverse stress environments. However, the exact mapping of alterations of related morpho-dynamic of the endomembrane system has still to be investigated. The molecular mechanisms involved in the receptor mediated vesicular transport of soluble proteins are quite consolidated nowadays and novel studies are now focusing other aspects of traffic earlier neglected. That is the case of unconventional protein sorting and membrane remodelling, the focus of this proposal. We aim to characterize the molecular determinants contributing to these pathways,  directing our study to the ER-to-vacuole sorting and to the interrelation between vacuolar and endocytic pathways. 

Started in October 2018

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