2002 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Cytological studies on the mechanism of hydrocarbon synthesis by a green alga, Botryococcus braunii
| Project/Area Number |
13640665
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
生物形態・構造
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| Research Institution | Nara women's University |
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Principal Investigator |
NOGUCHI Tetsuko Nara women's University, Faculty of Science, Dept.of Biological Science, Professor, 理学部, 教授 (00135823)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
KAGIWADA Satoshi Nara women's University, Faculty of Science, Dept.of Biological Science, Assistant Professor, 理学部, 助教授 (40281662)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2001 – 2002
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| Keywords | Botryococcus braunii / Green algae / Hydrocarbon / Trans-Golgi network / β-COP |
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| Research Abstract |
The colonial green alga Botryococcus braunii produces unusually high levels of hydrocarbons, amounting to 30%-60% of its dry weight, and accumulates them around the cell surfaces. Usually, the hydrocarbon synthesis occurrs just after cell division but before the formation of polysaccharide cell wall. In this study, we developed the induction-system of interphase cells into an active hydrocarbon synthesis. Active hydrocarbon synthesis occurred after the digestion of cell walls in interphase cells (spheroplasts), but didn't occur by the removal of already accumulated hydrocarbons. Maximally, we could induce 12 times of hydrocarbon synthesis by spheroplasts than those by normal interphase cells. The morphologies of Golgi bodies and the trans-Golgi networks (TGN) in spheroplasts were not similar to those in normal interphase cells, but those in cells just after cell division. The result strongly supports our hypothesis that the TGN is participated in the hydrocarbon synthesis. Then, we have isolated a cDNA coding for β-COP that is a coat-protein of transport vesicles mediating the vesicular transport through the Golgi apparatus and the TGN. The cDNA encodes a protein of 947 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 109 kDa. Immunoelectron microscopic analysis was also carried out with the anti-body against β-COP. To produce spheroplasts of B. braunii, we examined the polysaccharide and sugar compositions of the cell wall, and it was clarified that B.braunii had a characteristic one.
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Research Products
(10 results)
