Identification of functional compounds and biosynthetic genes by metagenomic methods

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H05629
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Aquatic life science
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Fujita Masaki 北海道大学, 水産科学研究院, 准教授 (30505251)
• Research Collaborator: Imai Ichiro ; Kimura Nobutada
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: メタゲノム / 化学生態学 / 海洋天然物 / クオラムセンシング / 殺藻細菌 / 生合成 / シデロフォア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to clarify the chemical communication among the environmental microorganisms, general scheme consisted of following methods and knowledges; metagenomics, biosynthesis, isolation and structure elucidation, bioinformatics, and variety of bioassays, were established.
Species, compounds, and biosynthetic genes clusters were identified from algicidal bacteria obtained from algal-blooming environmental samples. Furthermore, mechanisms of production and action of the active compounds were revealed which are important for practical usage of algicidal bacteria.
From the metagenomic clones, novel super-agonist of quorum sensing whose structure was completely different from the known signaling molecule was determined. Biosynthetic gene cluster of anti-tumor substance and its producer were identified from marine sponge symbiotic bacteria by metagenomics analysis. The producer is a quite unique bacterium belongs to the putative novel phylum, and exist in the specific marine sponge.

Free Research Field

生物有機化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

環境微生物、生合成、単離構造決定など異なる分野を統合して、環境中での微生物間化学相互作用を解析する試みは技術的にも困難でありほとんどなかった。その中で、DNA配列決定法とメタゲノム法の進展を取り入れ、体系的に研究するための方法論を確立できたことは、環境中で生じる未解明生命現象をとらえる上で大きな進歩である。
その結果、赤潮・アオコの生物学的防除につながる発見や、産業利用可能なクオラムセンシング物質の新規スーパーアゴニストの同定（特許取得済み）、カイメン共生微生物の有効利用を可能にする共生菌群の全ゲノム解明は、環境中での微生物機能を実用化する上でのモデルケースとなりうるものである。