Elisabeth Jamet1*†
Marie-Thérèse Esquerré-Tugayé1†
Karine Gallardo-Guerrero2†
Norbert Rolland3†
Michel Zivy4†
Mélisande Blein-Nicolas4†
Delphine Vincent5†
Brigitte Gontero6†
Loïc Rajjou7*†- 1Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse INP, Auzeville-Tolosane, France
- 2Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, Univ. Bourgogne, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
- 3Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, CEA, IRIG–LPCV, Grenoble, France
- 4Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, CNRS, AgroParisTech, GQE - Le Moulon, PAPPSO, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- 5Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
- 6Aix Marseille University, CNRS, UMR7281 Bioénergétique et Ingénierie des Protéines, Marseille, France
- 7Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), Versailles, France
Dominique Job was a renowned plant physiologist. He was born on June 4th 1947 in Marseille and passed away on October 18th 2022. He was initially trained in Physics and Mathematics. In 1969, he obtained a Master`s degree in Physics at the University of Dakar (Senegal). Subsequently, he joined the Laboratory of Plant Biochemistry (CNRS/Aix-Marseille University, France) where he conducted research on the physicochemical and enzymatic properties of hemeproteins from plants. He primarily used rapid enzyme kinetic approaches such as stopped-flow and temperature-jump relaxation, as well as other spectroscopic methods at very low temperature, which was highly innovative at the time. Dominique was particularly grateful to Prof Douzou for sharing his expertise on this technique during an internship in his lab (Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Paris). This work was the basis of his first article published in European Journal of Biochemistry (Ricard and Job, 1974). In 1970, Dominique was hired by CNRS as a Research Associate and in 1975, he successfully defended his PhD thesis. This research on plant hemeproteins was extended during two postdoctoral fellowships, first at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Edmonton (Canada) in the laboratory of Prof Dunford (1975-1977) and then at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne (UK) in the Radiation and Biophysical Chemistry Laboratory led by Prof Jones (1977).
Dominique Job sitting in the library of the French Academy of Agriculture in January 2018.
In 1978, upon returning to Marseille, Dominique started an emerging topic with the study of the mechanisms of transcription in plants. His major discoveries included (i) the elucidation of the mechanisms contributing to the processivity of the RNA polymerase II, (ii) the factors influencing the balance between abortive and productive transcription initiation, (iii) the mechanism of action of α-amanitin (a specific inhibitor of RNA pol II), and (iv) the influence of the sequence and conformation of the DNA template on the velocity and fidelity of transcription.
In 1992, Dominique moved to Lyon to integrate a public-private joint laboratory between CNRS and Rhône-Poulenc that later became CNRS/Bayer CropScience. He initiated a new project focusing on seed biology, while also conducting research on the characterization of the enzymatic pathways responsible for amino acid metabolism (sulfur or branched chain amino acids) and vitamin metabolism, particularly with regards to biotin. In 1999, Dominique was at the forefront of the development of plant proteomics by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the seed proteome of the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, made possible by the decoding of this first plant genome. Passionate about seed biology and the mechanisms that govern the transition from a dormant to an active metabolic state during germination, he has made a remarkable contribution to the generation of knowledge in this area of science and his articles are widely cited. In particular, a rule was invented in honor of the work achieved in Dominique’s lab. It states that “The proteins critical for translation must endure desiccation, quiescence, and rehydration in a functional state if the seed is to survive to complete germination” (Dirk and Downie, 2018). One of Dominique’s latest research interests dealt with Amborella trichopoda, the sister of all flowering plants. Dominique’s findings indicate that Amborella 11S globulins share similarities to those found in monocots and eudicots and display specific characteristics of corresponding seed storage proteins in basal angiosperms and gymnosperms. This supports the use of 11S globulins for further phylogenetic studies.
From 2008 to 2014, Dominique served as a Consultant Professor within the Chair of Plant Physiology at AgroParisTech, a leading French institution of higher education in the field of agricultural and environmental sciences as well as food technology. Dominique was widely recognized for his exceptional pedagogy, able to motivate and inspire his students, whether they be in engineering, master, or doctoral programs. Through his clear and concise approach to plant sciences, he was able to explain even the most complex concepts in biology, biochemistry, and genomics in a manner that was both comprehensible and relevant to his audience. His charisma and passion for life science research made him a highly valued professor, awaking interest and creativity in his students. He provided insightful advice to help students navigate their academic and career paths and accelerate their scientific success.
Besides research in the lab, Dominique has exerted a number of important responsibilities as a deputy head or head of the public-private joint laboratory CNRS/Bayer CropScience (UMR CNRS 5240) over the 1993-2010 period. At the national level, from 2000 to 2010, Dominique has been involved in the promotion of plant genomics as the scientific coordinator and manager through the Génoplante programme, a French public-private partnership. From 2008 to 2010, Dominique was Chairman of the scientific committee (calls for projects in plant and animal genomics) for the French National Research Agency (ANR). He served as a driving force in connecting basic research issues with practical concerns in the plant breeding industrial sectors. In 2012-2013, he was a scientific delegate for the French Evaluation Agency of Research and Higher Education (HCERES). At the European level, since 2006, Dominique was a member of the strategic advisory board of the German program for plant genomics and biotechnology (GABI, then Plant 2030 - Plant Biotechnology for the Future), and for the European PLANT-KBBE (“PLant Alliance for Novel Technologies - towards implementing the Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy in Europe”). Moreover, since 2008, Dominique has been working toward the establishment of an International Plant Proteomics Organization (INPPO), of which he was the first President (2008-2014) and which currently counts more than 700 members from over 60 countries.
After his retirement, Dominique remained an active scientist. He was nominated as an Emeritus CNRS Research Director in 2012 and he also became a talented Academician. Since his entry at the French Academy of Agriculture as corresponding (2004), then full member (2013), he never failed to promote the contribution of basic knowledge to the advancement of agriculture. Upon his arrival as secretary leader of the Life science section (2013-2017), and ever since, he readily innovated by systematically organizing a series of seminars by invited speakers, the so-called “At the frontiers of…” series. His management of national and European programs combined to his endless curiosity afforded Dominique a broad overview of new trends in plant science and beyond, which helped recruiting members with novel skills, for instance in the area of synthetic biology. As a defender of transdisciplinary approaches, Dominique set up several meetings coordinated with other sections, and Academies (Science, Technologies). Topics recently covered and in preparation were Biodiversity (2021), a theme very close to his heart (https://www.academie-agriculture.fr/actualites/academie/colloque/academie/distribution-et-dynamique-de-la-biodiversite); eDNA from paleogenomics to nowadays landscapes (planned for November 2023); and Mathematics and Biology (in preparation). As an active participant of the Academy, he contributed to working groups, namely “One health” through a chapter inspired by the Plant Health colloquium that he co-organized in Toulouse in November 2021 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5rt9-vU0H0); and “Agriculture Biologique” (https://www.academie-agriculture.fr/publications/articles/les-donnees-omiques-permettent-de-distinguer-les-produits-de-lagriculture). Over the years, Dominique has consistently taken part in the committees responsible for supporting and awarding the research of both senior and junior scientists in the field of agriculture.
Dominique became an authority on so many plant science topics that his opinion as an editor was highly valued. He was a member of the Editorial Board of Molecular & Cellular Proteomics, Seed Science Research, and Scientific Reports, Associate Editor of Frontiers in Plant Science, and Associate Chief Editor of Proteomes. This long list reflects his multiple scientific interests and technical expertise; it also illustrates his advocacy in promoting post-genomics, particularly proteomics. In this last aspect, Dominique also actively participated to the animation of the French Green Proteome network (https://www6.inrae.fr/proteome-vert), where he communicated his enthusiasm to many students and researchers. In 2007, he played an important role in setting up the French seed biology network. Since then, this network has organized a national symposium every two years, which has become a major event for academic researchers and seed industry professionals to come together, exchange information and cooperate. He was a permanent member of the scientific council of this network. As an editor, Dominique allowed the reporting of numerous high-quality peer-reviewed articles that filled a scientific knowledge gap, advanced biotechnologies, and reviewed the state-of-the-art of the many biological themes he specialized in. From 2011 to 2022, Dominique edited seven Frontiers in Plant Science’s Research Topics, aiming at unifying the most influential researchers, recent findings and cutting-edge progress in dynamic research areas pertaining to plant-microbe interactions, plant infection and defense, cereal and seed biology, as well as agricultural biotechnology. Such far-reaching editorial activities served Dominique’s future thinking process by making him aware of areas that were actively researched and on the verge of publication. Dominique’s contribution as an editor was immense; it helped boost the scientific fields he was passionate about, in which plants, seeds and proteomics research featured prominently.
Dominique could absorb an impressive amount of knowledge on any topic he set his mind to in a record time. He had a steely, incisive mind, and an unlimited curiosity. He was an open, free-minded, enthusiastic and visionary person who dedicated his life to Science. He was always willing to impart his wisdom faithfully and clearly to others, particularly emerging biologists, and discuss his findings with his many peers. Throughout his extensive scientific career as a researcher, an author, a reviewer, an editor, as well as a prized member of several committees and associations, Dominique kept abreast of countless aspects of biology, not only on plant but also human, animal and microbial sciences. He was constantly seeking out the newest discoveries, latest technologies and best strategies for practical applications to progress crop science and support an environmentally-friendly and sustainable agriculture. With an h-index of 60, he co-authored 218 publications with 14,268 citations (Google scholar on February 23rd 2023), many of them with his lifelong collaborator Claudette Job. In 2023, he is ranked 267 among the French scientists and 7,177 at the world level (https://research.com/u/dominique-job). His research was published in reputable and high impact factor journals such as Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the USA, and The Plant Cell, to name just a few. In 2019, he was awarded as a Chevalier de l’ordre du Mérite agricole for his entire career.
Dominique was very helpful and encouraging and spent a lot of his time sponsoring, supporting and advising young scientists more like a mentor than a supervisor. He had an exceptional ability to communicate his scientific knowledge. Many of his students followed in his footsteps and became scientists; they feel privileged to have contributed to his research. Inside and outside of the laboratory, he was kind, social, generous, and faithful. He will also remain in our memories as a remarkable Academician, a gentleman. Dominique will be immensely missed by his wife Claudette, his son Stéphane, his daughter Sandrine, his grand-children Ethan, Basile and Marius, and his many scientific friends and colleagues from around the world. The furrow he dug for them and for all of us will remain an invaluable guideline, forever.
Job's rule
Dirk, L. M. A., and Downie, B. (2018). An examination of Job’s rule: protection and repair of the proteins of the translational apparatus in seeds. Seed Sci. Res. 28, 168–181. doi:10.1017/S0960258518000284
Author contributions
All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to warmly thank Dominique’s family for their support during the writing of this tribute to Dominique’s achievements.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Selected bibliography (1974−2022)
Alban, C., Job, D., Douce, R. (2000). Biotin metabolism in plants. annu rev plant physiol plant. Mol. Biol. 51, 17–47. doi: 10.1146/annurev.arplant.51.1.17
Amborella Genome Project (2013). The amborella genome and the evolution of flowering plants. Science 342, 1241089. doi: 10.1126/science.1241089
Biou, V., Dumas, R., Pebay-Peyroula, E., Cohen-Addad, C., Job, D., Douce, R. (1997). The crystal structure of plant acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase complexed with NADPH, two magnesium ions and a herbicidal transition state analog determined at 1.65 a resolution. EMBO J. 16, 3405–3415. doi: 10.1093/emboj/16.12.3405
Catusse, J., Strub, J. M., Job, C., Van Dorsselaer, A., Job, D. (2007). Proteome-wide characterization of sugarbeet seed vigor and its tissue specific expression. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 105, 10262–10267. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0800585105
Dirk, L. M. A., Downie, B. (2018). An examination of job’s rule: protection and repair of the proteins of the translational apparatus in seeds. Seed Sci. Res. 28, 168–181. doi: 10.1017/S0960258518000284
Galland, M., Huguet, R., Arc, E., Cueff, G., Job, D., Rajjou, L. (2014). Dynamic proteomics emphasizes the importance of selective mRNA translation and protein turnover during arabidopsis seed germination. Mol. Cell. Proteomics 13, 252–268. doi: 10.1074/mcp.M113.032227
Gallardo, K., Job, C., Groot, S. P. C., Puype, M., Demol, H., Vandekerckhove, J., et al. (2001). Proteomic analysis of arabidopsis seed germination and priming. Plant Physiol. 126, 835–848. doi: 10.1104/pp.126.2.835
Job, D., Dunford, H. B. (1976). Substituent effect on the oxidation of phenols and aromaticamines by horseradish peroxidase compound I. Eur. J. Biochem. 66, 607–614. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1976.tb10588.x
Job, D., Jones, P. (1978). Compound I formation with turnip peroxidases and peroxybenzoic acids. Eur. J. Biochem. 86, 565–572. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1978.tb12340.x
Job, D., Marmillot, P., Job, C., Jovin, T. M. (1988). Transcription of left-handed z-DNA templates: increased rate of single-step addition reactions catalyzed by wheat germ RNA polymerase II. Biochemistry 27, 6371–6378. doi: 10.1021/bi00417a027
Marzena Kalemba, E., Valot, B., Job, D., Bailly, C., Meimoun, P. (2022). Are methionine sulfoxide-containing proteins related to seed longevity? a case study of Arabidopsis thaliana dry mature seeds using cyanogen bromide attack and two-dimensional-diagonal electrophoresis. Plants(Basel) 11, 569. doi: 10.3390/plants11040569
Ogé, L., Bourdais, G., Bove, J., Collet, B., Godin, B., Granier, F., et al. (2008). Protein repair l-isoaspartyl methyltransferase 1 is involved in both seed longevity and germination vigor in arabidopsis. Plant Cell 20, 3022–2037. doi: 10.1105/tpc.108.058479
Oracz, K., El-Maarouf Bouteau, H., Farrant, J. M., Cooper, K., Belghazi, M., Job, C., et al. (2007). ROS production and protein oxidation as a novel mechanism for seed dormancy alleviation. Plant J. 50, 452–465. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2007.03063.x
Poncet, V., Birnbaum, P., Burtet-Sarramegna, V., de Kochko, A., Fogliani, B., Gâteblé, G., et al. (2019). Amborella – bearing witness to the past? Ann. Plant Rev. Online 2, 1–41. doi: 10.1002/9781119312994.apr0689
Rajjou, L., Duval, M., Gallardo, K., Catusse, J., Bally, J., Job, C., et al. (2012). Seed germination and vigor. Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 63, 507–533. doi: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-042811-105550
Ravanel, S., Gakière, B., Job, D., Douce, R. (1998). The specific features of methionine biosynthesis and metabolism in plants. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95, 7805–7812. doi: 10.1073/pnas.95.13.7805
Ricard, J., Job, D. (1974). Reaction mechanism of indole-3-acetate degradation by peroxidases. a stopped-flow and low temperature spectroscopic study. Eur. J. Biochem. 44, 359–374. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1974.tb03493.x
Rolland, N., Ruffet, M. L., Job, D., Douce, R., Droux, M. (1996). Spinach chloroplast O-acetylserine (thiol)-lyase exhibits two catalytically non-equivalent pyridoxal-5’-phosphate-containing active sites. Eur. J. Biochem. 236, 272–282. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1996.00272.x
Villegente, M., Marmey, P., Job, C., Galland, M., Cueff, G., Godin, B., et al. (2017). A combination of histological, physiological, and proteomic approaches shed light on seed desiccation tolerance of the basal angiosperm Amborella trichopoda. Proteomes 5, 1–16. doi: 10.3390/proteomes5030019
Keywords: Dominique Job, obituary and bibliography, plant physiologist, French Academy of Agriculture, proteomics
Citation: Jamet E, Esquerré-Tugayé M-T, Gallardo-Guerrero K, Rolland N, Zivy M, Blein-Nicolas M, Vincent D, Gontero B and Rajjou L (2023) Obituary: Dominique Job (1947-2022). Front. Plant Sci. 14:1188766. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1188766
Received: 17 March 2023; Accepted: 05 April 2023;
Published: 08 May 2023.
Edited by:
Carmela Giglione, Université Paris Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), FranceReviewed by:
Thomas Roach, University of Innsbruck, AustriaCopyright © 2023 Jamet, Esquerré-Tugayé, Gallardo-Guerrero, Rolland, Zivy, Blein-Nicolas, Vincent, Gontero and Rajjou. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Elisabeth Jamet, elisabeth.jamet@univ-tlse3.fr; Loïc Rajjou, loic.rajjou@agroparistech.fr
†These authors have contributed equally to this work