Elucidation of signal transduction mechanism of tetrapyrrole-based retrograde signaling in plants

• Project/Area Number: 16F16090
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 外国
• Research Field: Plant molecular biology/Plant physiology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: 増田 建 東京大学, 大学院総合文化研究科, 教授 (00242305)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): AWASTHI SAUMYA 東京大学, 総合文化研究科, 外国人特別研究員
• Project Period (FY): 2016-07-27 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000)
• Keywords: レトログレードシグナル / ヘム / 葉緑体 / 核 / テトラピロール

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

In higher plants, chloroplast biogenesis involves the coordinated expression of the chloroplast and nuclear genomes, requiring information to be sent from the developing chloroplasts to the nucleus and vice versa. This is achieved through so-called retrograde and anterograde signaling pathways, respectively. Currently, the best model to explain the retrograde signaling is that a specific tetrapyrrole molecules generated by chloroplast as a signal to regulate the expression of nuclear genes required for chloroplast development. Although tetrapyrrole is recognized as an organelle-derived signal, the mechanism of transport from organelle to the nucleus and other organelles is still largely unknown. In this research project, signal transduction mechanism of tetrapyrrole-based retrograde signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana has been investigated.
During this research, we have succeeded in identifying candidate proteins involved in tetrapyrrole-derived retrograde signaling. It is possible that the identified ABC transporter is involved in transfer of signaling tetrapyrrole metabolites through envelope membrane of plastids. Furthermore, we found that GUN1, which is the most important component of retrograde signaling, directly binds to tetrapyrrole. These insights will significantly proceed our knowledge about the mechanism of retrograde signaling.

Research Progress Status

翌年度、交付申請を辞退するため、記入しない。

Strategy for Future Research Activity

翌年度、交付申請を辞退するため、記入しない。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Allocation of Heme Is Differentially Regulated by Ferrochelatase Isoforms in Arabidopsis Cells. (2016)
  • Author(s): Espinas, N. A., Kobayashi, K., Sato, Y., Mochizuki, N., Takahashi, K., Tanaka, R., & Masuda, T.
  • Journal Title: Frontiers in Plant Science Volume: 7 Pages: 1326-1326
  • DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01326
  • NAID: 120005980877
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Presentation] Tetrapyrrole-Binding Properties of GUN1 in Arabidopsis (2018)
  • Author(s): T Shimizu, S Awasthi, T Shimada, K Tanaka, N Mochizuki, S Watanabe, T Masuda
  • Organizer: CLS Tokyo Institute of Technology Forum 2018, Redox regulation of protein functions, transcription, translation and folding
• [Presentation] Biochemical characterization of tetrapyrrole-binding pentatricopeptide-repeat (PPR) proteins in plastids (2017)
  • Author(s): Awasthi, S., Shimada, T., Tanaka, K., Mochizuki, N., Watanabe, S., Masuda, T.
  • Organizer: 第58回植物生理学会年会
  • Place of Presentation: 鹿児島大学（鹿児島県・鹿児島市）
  • Year and Date: 2017-03-16
• [Presentation] Biochemical characterization of tetrapyrrole-binding pentatricopeptide-repeat (PPR) proteins in plastids (2017)
  • Author(s): S Awasthi, T Shimada, K Tanaka, N Mochizuki, S Watanabe, T Masuda
  • Organizer: 58th Annual Meeting of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists
• [Presentation] 可塑的な葉緑体における光合成系の構築 (2017)
  • Author(s): 増田 建
  • Organizer: 光合成科学：エネルギーとバイオマス
  • Place of Presentation: 東京工業大学（神奈川県・横浜市）
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Remarks] Masuda laboratory
  • URL: http://webpark1435.sakura.ne.jp/wp/
• [Remarks] 増田建研究室
  • URL: http://webpark1435.sakura.ne.jp/