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The Genome and Plant Development Laboratory (LGDP) is studying the organization of the plant genome and gene expression, in particular in plant development and adaptation to abiotic stress.

This joint research unit (UMR 5096) brings together some 50 people and is supported by two public institutions: the University of Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD) and the CNRS National Institute of Biological Sciences (INSB).

What are the LGDP research themes?

J-M Deragon: The common thread of the laboratory is the acclimatization or adaptation of plants to thermal stress. The LGDP is organized in 6 teams:

• Gene regulation and RNA silencing in plants
• Post-transcriptional reprogramming of gene expression in response to stress
• Functions of redoxins in plant development and stress response
• The nucleolus and the rRNA genes
• Epigenetic mechanisms and architecture of chromatin
• Genome analysis and evolution

Five out of six teams analyze gene expression reprogramming in response to thermal stress, a short-term acclimatization mechanism. The sixth team focuses on medium- to long-term genomic adaptation: how genomes reorganize in response to stress.

Of the five teams working on genome reprogramming following stress, three work at the scale of transcription initiation (chromatic structure and organization, DNA methylation and role of the nucleolus in the regulation of transcription). These three teams develop closely related and complementary research on the epigenetic regulation of transcription under thermal stress. The fourth team studies the impact of thermal stress at the post-transcriptional level (fate of mRNAs: degradations, translation, storage, epigenetic modifications). The 5th team studies the changes and fate of proteins after thermal stress, at the post-translational level. By combining the research activities of these teams, the LGDP scans all the mechanisms involved in stress response.

What made you want to integrate TULIP?

J-M Deragon: The LRSV and LIPM laboratories are working on plant microorganism interactions, which are strongly influenced by temperature and partly regulated by epigenetic processes. It therefore seemed to us that the LGDP could bring interesting expertise and new opportunities for collaboration on this topic.

Furthermore, the LGDP is in the middle of a major thematic shift. We want to assess the relevance of our laboratory studies in more natural situations. In other words, we need to investigate whether the determinants detected and studied in the laboratory undergo a selection and therefore play a role in nature. It may also allow us to identify new determinants by analyzing the genetic diversity of populations. I am convinced that we need to connect with the natural environment -and its biodiversity- to inhance the relevance and impact of our research.

For that goal, we have to face the limits of our approach, and our need to establish solid collaboration, expertise and advice. After looking at the French-speaking interface between molecular biology and ecology, we concluded that TULIP is clearly emerging as a major actor.

We have already had occasional collaborations in the past with TULIP researchers on molecular biology issues, and we have an ongoing collaboration between Christophe Dunand and Valérie Hinou, Jean-Philippe Reichheld and Julio Saez-Vazquez involved in a project on the biodiversity of Catalan reserves, Andorra and the Toulouse region. And we should not forget that our Labs are both located in the new Occitanie / Pyrénées-Méditerranée region, which should create very positive opportunities for us to integrate this network.

And now ?

The LGDP would like to develop collaborative projects with TULIP units on two axes: first of all, on the issues of population genetics and genetic of associations. But we would also like to develop projects at the biotic/abiotic stress interface. We really think we can bring our expertise to a number of projects that are beginning to emerge owing to the TULIP dynamics, combining heat stress with infections by pathogens.