| Budget Amount *help |
¥5,070,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,170,000)
Fiscal Year 2017: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000)
Fiscal Year 2016: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000)
Fiscal Year 2015: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000)
Fiscal Year 2014: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000)
Fiscal Year 2013: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000)
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Euglena gracilis, a unicellular phytoflagellate, has been attracting much attention as a potential feedstock for renewal energy. In outdoor open-pond cultivation, the productivity of this alga decreases under the direct solar radiation. Here we identified carotenoid biosynthetic genes such as phytoene synthase gene (EgcrtB) from E. gracilis and found that they are actually functional genes. This study indicated that excess light-stress increased the expression of EgcrtB, which codes for the enzyme catalyzing the first carotenoid specific step, and caused an accumulation of carotenoids in the cells of E. gracilis. Our results also indicated that suppression of EgcrtB caused a significant decrease in carotenoid and chlorophyll contents in E. gracilis accompanied by changes in intracellular structures, suggesting that carotenoids contribute to photoprotection of this alga during the long-term acclimation to light-induced stress.
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