PIF2025 - Bases moleculares de la interregulación factor de transcripción–cromatina en plantas - (PID2024-155921NA-I00)

This FPI project will investigate how transcriptional regulators of the ARF family integrate with the chromatin landscape to control gene expression during plant development. Using Marchantia polymorpha and other model systems spanning the streptophyte lineage, we will combine functional genomics, biochemical assays, and comparative evolutionary approaches to dissect the relationship between ARF effector domains and chromatin states. This will provide mechanistic insight into how transcription factor function evolves in the context of changing regulatory environments. In parallel, the candidate will contribute to collaborative studies on poorly characterized chromatin-associated proteins, including PHIP, a conserved eukaryotic protein with potential roles in histone recognition and DNA repair. These complementary projects will broaden the training of the doctoral researcher, integrating molecular evolution, chromatin biology, and functional genomics. The expected outcomes are (i) new mechanistic understanding of ARF–chromatin interplay, (ii) evolutionary models for transcription factor diversification, and (iii) methodological resources for the plant evo-devo community.