Dissertation
Remember or Die: action of thermomemory when proteostasis meets phase separation
Climate change is increasingly threatening agriculture, as rising temperatures cause major losses in crop productivity. Plants, however, have a remarkable ability to “remember” previous heat stress.
- Author
- P. Chopra
- Date
- 21 May 2026
- Links
- Thesis in Leiden Repository
This process, called thermomemory, helps them better survive future heat waves and is important for developing climate-resilient crops.This PhD research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying plant heat stress memory (thermomemory) and protein homeostasis (proteostasis). Using molecular genetics, cell biology, and proteomics, I investigated how protein quality-control systems, biomolecular condensates, and regulatory networks contribute to thermomemory.The results show that thermomemory is not controlled by a single pathway, but arises from a balance between processes that preserve memory and those that reset it. A key discovery is the role of the protein HSP70, which forms small compartments inside plant cells after heat stress. These structures act as “memory hubs,” stabilising important proteins and helping maintain stress memory.At the same time, mechanisms exist to reset this memory. The plastidial protease FtsH6 degrades heat-protective proteins, while the transcription factor ATAF1 regulates cellular recycling (autophagy), removing excess or damaged components.Together, these systems form a coordinated network that enables plants to adapt to recurring heat stress. These findings are relevant for crops such as tomato and may support the development of heat-resilient plants, contributing to food security in a warming climate.