[Arabidopsis] post-doc position

[Mathilde GRELON]

POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP

A postdoctoral position in Molecular Biology and 
Genetics is available at INRA of Versailles.

Post Doc Project:

Meiotic recombination initiation mechanisms in Arabidopsis thaliana

In budding yeast, meiotic recombination events 
are initiated by DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) 
catalysed by the Spo11 protein. In this species, 
DSB formation also requires nine other proteins 
whose molecular function is poorly understood. 
Nevertheless, recent studies tend to group them 
into subcomplexes, indicating that they can be 
intimately linked and can form a large 
recombination initiation complex in which DSBs 
are made.
Many investigations have been carried out to 
identify in other organisms, homologs of these 
DSB forming proteins. Unfortunately, unlike 
Spo11, most of these are not conserved across 
kingdoms. Furthermore, even when DSB proteins are 
conserved, their role in meiotic DSB formation is 
missing.
A large-scale forward genetic approach to isolate 
plant meiotic genes has revealed the existence of 
new meiotic functions that could be necessary for 
meiotic DSB formation in the model plant 
Arabidopsis thaliana. The selected candidate will 
be in charge of the cloning and the 
characterisation of several of these genes at the 
molecular, genetic and cytological levels.
A large range of tools are already available in 
the laboratory (as chromosome structure or 
meiotic recombination progression markers), while 
others will be developed by the selected 
candidate in order to analyse the function of the 
isolated DSB forming proteins, as well as their 
in vitro or in vivo interactions.

Candidate profile

Applicants should have completed their PhD less 
than 5 years ago. A strong background in 
molecular biology, genetics or cytology will be 
appreciated. The position is available before the 
end of the year for a period of two years.

If interested, please send an application 
outlining research experience and interests, 
curriculum vitae, and the names and addresses of 
two references to Dr. Mathilde Grelon 
(grelon from versailles.inra.fr), Institut Jean-Pierre 
Bourgin, INRA de Versailles, Station de Génétique 
et d'Amélioration des Plantes, UR-254, Route de 
Saint-Cyr, F-78026 Versailles, France. Phone: 
(+33)(0)1.30.83.33.08. Fax:(+33)(0)1.30.83.33.19


Significant recent publications of the group

- Mercier R., Grelon M. (2008) Meiosis in plants: 
ten years of gene discovery. Cytogenetics and 
Genome Research.  Reviews in Plant Cytogenetics. 
120(3-4):281-290.
- de Muyt A., Vezon D., Gendrot G., Gallois 
J.-L., Stevens  R., Grelon M. (2007) AtPRD1 is 
required for meiotic double strand break 
formation in Arabidopsis thaliana. EMBO J. 2007 
Sep 19; 26(18):4126-37
- Chelysheva L., Gendrot G., Vezon D., Doutriaux 
M.-P., Mercier R., Grelon M. (2007) Zip4/Spo22 is 
required for class I CO formation but not for 
synapsis completion in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLoS 
Genet. 2007 May 25;3(5):e83.
- Chelysheva L., Diallo S., Vezon D., Gendrot G., 
Vrielynck N., Belcram K., Rocques N., 
Márquez-Lema A., Bhatt A. M., Horlow C., Mercier 
R., Mézard C, Grelon M. (2005) AtREC8 and AtSCC3 
are essential to the monopolar orientation of the 
kinetochores during meiosis. J. Cell Sci. Oct 
15;118(Pt 20):4621-32
-Grelon M, Vezon D, Gendrot G, Pelletier G. 
(2001) AtSPO11-1 is neccessary for efficient 
meiotic recombination in plants. EMBO J. Feb 
1;20(3):589-600.

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Dr. Mathilde Grelon
Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin
INRA  de Versailles
Station de Genetique et d'Amelioration des Plantes
UR-254
Route de Saint-Cyr
F-78026 Versailles
France

Phone: (33).1.30.83.33.08
Fax:   (33).1.30.83.33.19
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