DNA-incorporating microbial cells as agents of lateral gene transfer in extreme environments

• Project/Area Number: 26650140
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Evolutionary biology
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Yanagawa Katsunori 九州大学, 比較社会文化研究科(研究院), 研究員 (50599678)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2015)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,860,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥660,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
• Keywords: 遺伝子水平伝播 / コンピテントセル / 熱水 / 進化 / 遺伝子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An easy and rapid protocol to detect DNA-incorporating microbial cells by using flowcytometer was developed. This methodology was applied to microbial communities in several geothermal sites. Only one site showed the existence of naturally competent microbial cells, which uptake DNA molecules directly from extracellular environments into the cell bodies. In contrast, no uptake was observed after the long-term incubation of the samples. This study suggests that naturally competent cells are present in hot spring water and play an important role in horizontal gene transfer.

Research Products

• [Int'l Joint Research] アリゾナ大学(米国)
• [Journal Article] スマトラ島北部の温泉に発達する多様な微生物マット (2015)
  • Author(s): 杉原千耶，高島千鶴，柳川勝紀，森大器，奥村知世，Agung Harijoko
  • Journal Title: 地球科學 Volume: 69 Pages: 141-142
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] スマトラ島北部の温泉に発達する多様な微生物マット (2015)
  • Author(s): 杉原千耶，高島千鶴，柳川勝紀，森大器，奥村知世，Agung Harijoko
  • Journal Title: 地球科学 Volume: 70
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Daily lamination formed by sulfur oxidizing bacteria and chloroflexus in a hot spring stromatolite (2016)
  • Author(s): Okumura, T, Takashima, C, Yanagawa, K, Sugihara, C, Harijoko, A and Kano, A
  • Organizer: 35th International Geological Congress
  • Place of Presentation: Cape Town
  • Year and Date: 2016-08-27
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Transition of microbial communities and laminated structures in travertines: a case study in northern Sumatra, Indonesia (2016)
  • Author(s): Sugihara, C., Kano, A., Yanagawa, K., Okumura, T., Takashima, C.
  • Organizer: 日本地球惑星科学連合2016年大会
  • Place of Presentation: 幕張メッセ
  • Year and Date: 2016-05-22
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 北部スマトラ島の縞状トラバーチンと硫黄細菌 (2016)
  • Author(s): 杉原千耶，柳川勝紀，狩野彰宏，奥村知世，高島千鶴
  • Organizer: 地質学会西日本支部
  • Place of Presentation: 熊本大学
  • Year and Date: 2016-02-20
• [Presentation] 熱水噴出孔下に存在する生命圏の限界 (2015)
  • Author(s): 柳川勝紀，井尻暁，Anja Breuker，酒井早苗，三好陽子，川口慎介，野口拓郎，平井美穂，Axel Schippers，石橋純一郎，高木善弘，布浦拓郎，高井研
  • Organizer: 日本地球化学会第62回年会
  • Place of Presentation: 横浜国立大学
  • Year and Date: 2015-09-17
  • Invited
• [Presentation] スマトラ島北部のトラバーチンに見られる微生物群集遷移 (2015)
  • Author(s): 杉原千耶，狩野彰宏，柳川勝紀，高島千鶴，奥村知世
  • Organizer: 日本古生物学会
  • Place of Presentation: 豊橋市自然史博物館
  • Year and Date: 2015-01-30
• [Presentation] 深海熱水噴出孔で生命の起源を探る (2014)
  • Author(s): 柳川勝紀
  • Organizer: 第68回地団研九州総会
  • Place of Presentation: 佐賀大学
  • Year and Date: 2014-08-22
  • Invited