Functional analysis of GLES1 essential for chloroplast development in guard cells

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K18556
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Plant molecular biology/Plant physiology
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: NEGI JUNTARO 九州大学, 理学研究院, 准教授 (70529099)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 気孔 / 葉緑体 / 脂質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Stomatal guard cells develop unique chloroplasts in land plant species. However, the developmental mechanisms and function of chloroplasts in guard cells remain unclear. In seed plants, chloroplast membrane lipids are synthesized via two pathways: the prokaryotic and the eukaryotic pathways. We gained insight into these pathways by isolating and examining an Arabidopsis mutant, gles1, which has achlorophyllous stomata and impaired stomatal responses to CO2 and light. The GLES1 gene encodes a putative regulatory component of the trigalactosyldiacylglycerol protein complex that mediates the ER-to-chloroplast lipid transport via the eukaryotic pathway. Lipidomic analysis reveals that in wild type, the prokaryotic pathway is dysfunctional specifically in guard cells, whereas in gles1 guard cells, the eukaryotic pathway is also abrogated. In conclusion, the eukaryotic lipid pathway is essential for guard-cell chloroplasts to develop CO2 and light signal sensing machinery.

Free Research Field

植物分子生理学