Study on role of phytohormones in regulation of stem cell proliferation

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Principles of pluripotent stem cells underlying plant vitality
• Project/Area Number: 17H06473
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Sakakibara Hitoshi 名古屋大学, 生命農学研究科, 教授 (20242852)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 芦苅 基行 名古屋大学, 生物機能開発利用研究センター, 教授 (80324383)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-06-30 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 茎頂幹細胞 / サイトカイニン / シロイヌナズナ / イネ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The molecular and genetic studies revealed that among the cytokinin molecular species transported from the root to the shoot via the vascular system, the precursor-type transport form (trans-zeatin riboside) plays an important role in the maintenance of shoot apical stem cell activity mediated by LOG, an activating enzyme of cytokinin, while the active-type transport form (trans-zeatin) is mainly involved in the control of post-differentiation traits such as leaf area. Integrated with the findings on the regulation of cytokinin biosynthetic gene expression in response to nitrogen nutrient conditions, we constructed a molecular model of cytokinin action on shoot apical stem cells in the regulation of plant growth and development in response to nutrient conditions.

Free Research Field

植物生化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、植物の陸上バイオマスの根源ともいえる茎頂幹細胞の機能維持と活性調節におけるサイトカイニンの作用機作の分子基盤、具体的には、茎頂幹細胞を含む微空間内へのサイトカイニンの輸送と、作用に至るまでの代謝と移動、受容の場の空間的配置の重要性を明らかにすることができた。本研究成果は、植物バイオマス生産や低インプット型作物生産の向上のための分子育種に向けた重要な知識基盤となる。