Elucidating the mechanism of strigolactone signal transduction in a parasitic plant Striga

• Project/Area Number: 18H02459
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 44030:Plant molecular biology and physiology-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Tsuchiya Yuichiro 名古屋大学, トランスフォーマティブ生命分子研究所, 特任准教授 (00442989)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
• Budget Amount: ¥17,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥4,020,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥5,070,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,170,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥5,850,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,350,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥6,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,500,000)
• Keywords: ストリゴラクトン / 寄生植物 / ストライガ / 受容体 / 発芽 / シグナル伝達 / ケミカルバイオロジー / 植物ホルモン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A parasitic plant called Striga causes huge damages on crop production in Africa by parasitizing monocot crops including maize and sorghum. Dormant Striga seeds sense host-derived strigolactones (SLs) for germination. We took chemical genetic approach to identify novel components involved in this process. We performed two types of chemical screening, one for suppressors of SL-induced germination, and the other for small molecules that break upper-limit of Striga germination rate. Both screenings identify several hit molecules, and we performed identifications of target proteins and biochemical characterization of these proteins.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ストライガをはじめとした寄生植物特有に見られる受容体のコピー数の増加の生物学的な意義が見出せていない現状において、本研究より受容体間に機能的な相互作用が存在することが示唆された。すなわち、土中に存在するSLの種類により発芽するか否かが決定されることを示唆しており、ストライガが寄生する宿主の種類をSLのブレンドを認識することで起こしていると考えられた。また、受容体ネットワークを制御することで発芽を抑制できることより、この原理を踏襲した発芽抑制剤の開発が可能となり、自殺発芽とは異なるアプローチでストライガの寄生を抑える方法へと発展することが期待される。

Research Products

• [Int'l Joint Research] University of Toronto(カナダ)
• [Journal Article] 自殺発芽剤による寄生植物ストライガからの防除 (2020)
  • Author(s): 土屋雄一朗
  • Journal Title: 植調 Volume: 54 Pages: 13-16
• [Journal Article] Enantioselective Synthesis of Polycyclic γ-Lactams with Multiple Chiral Carbon Centers via Ni(0)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Carbonylative Cycloadditions without Stirring (2020)
  • Author(s): Ashida Keita、Hoshimoto Yoichi、Tohnai Norimitsu、Scott David E.、Ohashi Masato、Imaizumi Hanae、Tsuchiya Yuichiro、Ogoshi Sensuke
  • Journal Title: Journal of the American Chemical Society Volume: 142 Issue: 3 Pages: 1594-1602
  • DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b12493
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] 人工ストリゴラクトンの設計 (2019)
  • Author(s): 土屋雄一朗
  • Journal Title: 植物の生長調節 Volume: 54 Pages: 49-53
  • NAID: 130007668427
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] 「魔女の雑草」寄生植物ストライガの撲滅に向けて (2019)
  • Author(s): 土屋雄一朗
  • Journal Title: バイオサイエンスとインダストリー (B&I) Volume: 77 Pages: 299-303
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] A femtomolar-range suicide germination stimulant for the parasitic plant Striga hermonthica. (2018)
  • Author(s): Uraguchi, D., Kuwata, K., Hijikata, Y., Yamaguchi, R., Imaizumi, H., Am, S., Rakers, C., Mori, N., Akiyama, K., Irle, S., McCourt, P., Kinoshita, T., Ooi, T., and Tsuchiya, Y.
  • Journal Title: Science Volume: 362 Issue: 6420 Pages: 1301-1305
  • DOI: 10.1126/science.aau5445
  • NAID: 120006623828
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Small Molecule Toolbox for Strigolactone Biology (2018)
  • Author(s): Tsuchiya Yuichiro
  • Journal Title: Plant and Cell Physiology Volume: 59 Issue: 8 Pages: 1511-1519
  • DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcy119
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] The dynamics of strigolactone perception in Striga hermonthica: a working hypothesis (2018)
  • Author(s): Tsuchiya Yuichiro、Yoshimura Masahiko、Hagihara Shinya
  • Journal Title: Journal of Experimental Botany Volume: 69 Issue: 9 Pages: 2281-2290
  • DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery061
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Manipulating strigolactone receptors in parasitic plant Striga hermonthica with small molecules (2020)
  • Author(s): Yuichiro Tsuchiya
  • Organizer: MBS symposium
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] 寄生植物ストライガの撲滅に 向けたケミカルバイオロジー研究 (2019)
  • Author(s): 土屋雄一朗
  • Organizer: 植物化学調節会議
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Unravel strigolactone signaling and controlling parasitic plant behaviors with small molecules (2019)
  • Author(s): Yuichiro Tsuchiya
  • Organizer: International conference on plant growth substances
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Unravel strigolactone signaling and controlling parasitic plant behaviors with small molecules (2019)
  • Author(s): Yuichiro Tsuchiya
  • Organizer: International Parasitic Plant Society
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Unravel strigolactone signaling and controlling parasitic plant behaviors (2019)
  • Author(s): Yuichiro Tsuchiya
  • Organizer: ACS Spring
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Unravel strigolactone signaling and controlling parasitic plant behaviors with small molecules (2019)
  • Author(s): Yuichiro Tsuchiya
  • Organizer: CSH meeting
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] 寄生植物ストライガの撲滅に向けたケミカルバイオロジー研究 (2019)
  • Author(s): 土屋雄一朗
  • Organizer: 植物科学シンポジウム2019
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Unravel strigolactone signaling and controlling parasitic plant behaviors (2019)
  • Author(s): Yuichiro Tsuchiya
  • Organizer: ACS Spring 2019
  • Invited
• [Remarks]
  • URL: http://www.itbm.nagoya-u.ac.jp/en/research/2018/12/Striga-SPL7.php
• [Patent(Industrial Property Rights)] 寄生植物発芽調節剤 (2018)
  • Inventor(s): 土屋雄一朗、浦口大輔、大井貴史、木下俊則、望田啓子
  • Industrial Property Rights Holder: 国立大学法人名古屋大学
  • Industrial Property Rights Type: 特許
  • Filing Date: 2018
  • Overseas