Kaisa Kajala and Laura Ragni (University of Freiburg) receives NWO M-WEAVE grant

Mystery of the MYBs – finding the missing piece for dynamic regulation of suberin in roots. (MYBstery) – Dr. K. Kajala (Utrecht University) and Prof.dr. L. Ragni (University of Freiburg)

Summary:
Plant roots are constantly exposed to environmental stresses such as drought, salinity, and pathogens. To protect themselves, roots deposit a hydrophobic polymer called suberin in specific cell walls, forming a barrier that controls water and nutrient transport. This protective layer is crucial for plant survival and crop resilience, yet large knowledge gaps remain in understanding how its deposition is regulated. Central to this regulation are MYB transcription factors, which coordinate the expression of suberin biosynthesis genes. However, many MYBs appear redundant, share similar binding motifs, and show overlapping expression patterns, raising the question of how specificity and functional diversity are achieved.
In MYBstery, we aim to uncover how MYB transcription factors orchestrate suberin deposition across different cell types, developmental stages, and plant species. We will examine how MYB regulatory networks are wired differently in three different cell types, investigate how posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation or ubiquitination influence MYB activity, and explore how MYB gene family members have evolved distinct roles in various plant lineages. By revealing the missing regulatory links in the suberin gene network, this research will improve our fundamental understanding of root barrier biology and offer new molecular targets for breeding crops better adapted to environmental stress.