Mapping the evolutionary role of the ERF115 transcriptional activator in the process of wound-induced regeneration

Injury-induced regeneration represents a self-preserving mechanism in most multicellular lifeforms Depending on the species, the extent of regeneration is highly variable Among metazoans regeneration is frequently restricted to tissue repair Contrary, plants display an unrivaled regeneration capacity that not only restores damaged tissues, but can also give rise to whole plant bodies, allowing them to survive severe stress conditions, such as injury, herbivory attack, and dramatic weather conditions In most regenerative systems, regeneration is controlled through activated cell proliferation in response to an injury-induced release of a mitogenic signal However, the mechanisms by which cells in the direct vicinity trigger wound repair remains a major question in regenerative biology Here we aim to address this topic on basis of the recent identification of a unique and novel plant regulator that is instantly induced by wounded cells and that plays an essential role in the replenishment of damaged stem cells, being a transcription factor nominated ERF115 To underscore the importance of the ERF115-driven tissue regeneration across the green linage, a functional analysis of orthologous genes from different species will be undertaken The obtained knowledge will subsequently be used to identify conserved ERF115 target genes and to pinpoint the putative underlying reasons for some species being unable to regenerate