Evolution of a novel symbiosis underlying the deep-sea adaption of invertebrates.

• Project/Area Number: 15H05605
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Evolutionary biology
• Research Institution: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: MIYAMOTO Norio 国立研究開発法人海洋研究開発機構, 海洋生命理工学研究開発センター, 研究員 (20612237)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥22,750,000 (Direct Cost: ¥17,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥5,250,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥5,850,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,350,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥6,890,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,590,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥10,010,000 (Direct Cost: ¥7,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,310,000)
• Keywords: 共生 / 深海 / 細菌 / ゲノム / トランスクリプトーム / ホネクイハナムシ / 進化 / 発生 / 代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Bone-eating worms of the genus Osedax (Annelida, Siboglinidae) have adapted to whale fall environments by acquiring a novel characteristic called the root, which branches and penetrates into sunken bones. We compared transcriptomes from different RNA samples of Osedax japonicus. Through targeted gene annotation we found gene family expansions resulting in a remarkably large number of matrix metalloproteinase (mmp) genes in the Osedax compared with other invertebrates. These Osedax mmp genes were expressed in the root epidermal cells.Genes encoding various types of transporters, including amino acid, oligopeptide, bicarbonate, and sulfate/carboxylate transporters, were also expressed in root epidermal cells. In addition, amino acid and other metabolite transporter genes were expressed in bacteriocytes. These protease and transporter genes were first expressed in root tissues at the juvenile stage, when the root starts to develop.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Genetic mechanisms of bone digestion and nutrient absorption in the bone-eating worm Osedax japonicus inferred from transcriptome and gene expression analyses. (2017)
  • Author(s): Miyamoto N, Yoshida MA, Koga H, Fujiwara Y
  • Journal Title: BMC Evolutionary Biology Volume: 17 Issue: 1
  • DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0844-4
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] ホネクイハナムシが根っこでクジラの骨を食べる仕組み (2017)
  • Author(s): 宮本教生
  • Organizer: 第５回 NGS現場の会
  • Invited
• [Presentation] ホネクイハナムシが根っこでクジラの骨を食べる仕組み (2017)
  • Author(s): 宮本教生
  • Organizer: 第19回マリンバイオテクノロジー学会
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Function and evolution of root in bone-eating worm Osedax (2017)
  • Author(s): Norio Miyamoto
  • Organizer: 4th International Congress on Invertebrate Morphology
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] 『飼う！』深海生物学 (2015)
  • Author(s): 宮本教生
  • Organizer: 日本進化学会第17回大会
  • Place of Presentation: 中央大学後楽園キャンパス（東京都文京区）
  • Year and Date: 2015-08-21
  • Invited