Objectif Predation plays a major role in energy and nutrient flow in the biological food chain. Carnivory is best known from the animal kingdom, but the plant kingdom has flesh eaters as well. This field has attracted much interest since Darwin s time, but many fundamental properties of the carnivorous life style remain largely unexplored. This project will close this gap by a multidisciplinary approach based on state-of-art bioinformatics, molecular biology, chemistry and biophysics. It will focus on 1. Genome/Transcriptome Profiling to study the genetic make-up of carnivorous plants (CPs) and the evolution of carnivory 2. Origin of Excitability to investigate whether CPs gained the inventory to fire action potentials from captured animals or rather evolved excitability independently 3. Prey Recognition on the basis of mechanical- and chemical senses 4. Endocrinology Structure and function of exocrine glands - CPs offer a unique system to study the biology of digestive glands (exo-/endocytosis) in plants. Over 600 plant species use special structures to capture animals such as insects. The genome/transcriptome of major trap types such as snap traps, tentacles traps, suction traps, corkscrew traps, and pitfall traps will be compared and trap-specific genes identified. Among them those giving rise to membrane excitation, excitation-contraction coupling and exocrine systems (glands) will be functionally characterized in detail. Using loss-of-function mutants and transformed plants with respect to CP-specific the role of CP-specific in electrical signalling, excitation contraction coupling, and excretion will be unravelled. The evolution of electrical activity and carnivory of plants is worth being examined not only for its importance in general, but also as a model for understanding the evolution of the human nervous and endocrine system. Champ scientifique natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological behavioural sciencesethologybiological interactionsnatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyentomologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineendocrinologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biology Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Thème(s) ERC-AG-LS9 - ERC Advanced Grant - Applied life sciences and biotechnology Appel à propositions ERC-2009-AdG Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Institution d’accueil JULIUS-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAT WURZBURG Contribution de l’UE € 2 481 057,00 Adresse SANDERRING 2 97070 Wuerzburg Allemagne Voir sur la carte Région Bayern Unterfranken Würzburg, Kreisfreie Stadt Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Contact administratif Christian Gloggengiesser (Mr.) Chercheur principal Rainer Franz Hedrich (Prof.) Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée Bénéficiaires (1) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire JULIUS-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAT WURZBURG Allemagne Contribution de l’UE € 2 481 057,00 Adresse SANDERRING 2 97070 Wuerzburg Voir sur la carte Région Bayern Unterfranken Würzburg, Kreisfreie Stadt Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Contact administratif Christian Gloggengiesser (Mr.) Chercheur principal Rainer Franz Hedrich (Prof.) Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée