Transgenesis of insect-transmissible plant-pathogenic microorganisms

• Project/Area Number: 25660034
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Plant protection science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: NAMBA Shigetou 東京大学, 農学生命科学研究科, 教授 (50189221)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,030,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥930,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥2,470,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥570,000)
• Keywords: プラスミド / トランスジェネシス / ファイトプラズマ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Due to difficulties in culturing insect-transmissible plant-pathogenic bacteria (such as phytoplasmas) in vitro and in manipulating them genetically, these organisms are one of the most poorly characterized groups of plant pathogens. In this study, we investigated a “transgenesis method” that aims genetic manipulation without culturing using phytoplasmas as model organisms. We specified the minimum unit of a phytoplasmal plasmid for a development of shuttle vector. We also searched a phytoplasmal promoter that is active in both plant and insect hosts. Using these results, we constructed a shuttle vector and a gene expression cassette.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] The phytoplasmal virulence factor TENGU causes plant sterility by downregulating of the jasmonic acid and auxin pathways. (2014)
  • Author(s): Minato, N., Himeno, M., Hoshi, A., Maejima, K., Komatsu, K., Takebayashi, Y., Kasahara, H., Yusa, A., Yamaji, Y., Oshima, K., Kamiya, Y. & Namba, S.
  • Journal Title: Scientific reports Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Pages: 1-7
  • DOI: 10.1038/srep07399
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Onion yellow phytoplasma P38 protein plays a role in adhesion to the hosts. (2014)
  • Author(s): Neriya Y., Maejima K., Nijo T., Tomomitsu T., Yusa A., Himeno M., Netsu O., Hamamoto H., Oshima K., Namba S.
  • Journal Title: FEMS Microbiology Letters Volume: 361 Issue: 2 Pages: 115-122
  • DOI: 10.1111/1574-6968.12620
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Purple top symptoms are associated with reduction of leaf cell death in phytoplasma-infected plants. (2014)
  • Author(s): Himeno M., Kitazawa Y., Yoshida T., Maejima K., Yamaji Y., Oshima K., Namba S.
  • Journal Title: Scientific Reports Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Pages: 111-111
  • DOI: 10.1038/srep04111
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] The alteration of plant morphology by small peptides released from the proteolytic processing of the bacterial peptide, TENGO. (2013)
  • Author(s): Sugawara, K., Honma, Y., Komatsu, K., Himeno, M., Oshima, K., Namba, S.
  • Journal Title: Plant Physiology Volume: 162 Issue: 4 Pages: 2005-2014
  • DOI: 10.1104/pp.113.218586
  • Peer Reviewed