Novel calcium signaling network mediated by mitochondria in plant cells

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K14553
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Plant molecular biology/Plant physiology
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University
• Principal Investigator: Shiina Takashi 京都府立大学, 生命環境科学研究科, 教授 (10206039)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ミトコンドリア / カルシウム / レトログレードシグナル / 機械受容チャネル / 気孔

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Mitochondria play important roles in not only aerobic respiration, but also a range of cellular functions, including apoptosis and cellular senescence in animal cells. It should be noted that calcium signaling is involved in the cellular responses mediated by mitochondria. In this study, novel mitochondrial functions are characterized in plant cells. (1) A novel mechanical channel, MSL1 in the inner membrane of plant mitochondria plays a critical role in the regulation of stomatal aperture. (2) Mitochondrial dysfunction mediated cytosolic calcium signals acts as a retrograde signal to activate the expression of nuclear-encoded defense-related genes. These findings would open novel insights into the role of mitochondria in the regulation of cellular functions in plant cells.

Free Research Field

植物生理学