Development and Applications of Chemical Probes for Visualization of Plant Cell Wall Lignification

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H06198
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Wood science
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Tobimatsu Yuki 京都大学, 生存圏研究所, 准教授 (20734221)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: リグニン / 植物細胞壁 / 木質バイオマス / 生体イメージング / 蛍光プローブ / クリックケミストリー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this project, we have developed a new tool for visualizing plant cell wall lignification by using synthetic chemical probes. The developed method can be implemented in various research settings aiming to investigate the elusive mechanisms of plant cell wall development and ultimately facilitate the use of plant cell wall materials as sustainable biomass resource. With collaborators, we explore the utility of the developed chemical probes to visualize the dynamics of plant cell wall lignification processes in various plant tissues and obtained several new insights into the molecular mechanisms associated with the development of plant cell walls.

Free Research Field

木質科学・植物代謝機能化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、従来困難であった木質細胞壁形成の簡便かつ高感度なイメージング解析を可能とする新手法を開発し、それを活用して木質形成の分子機構に関わる様々な新知見を得た。これらは、陸上植物の進化や環境適応と密接に関わる植物細胞壁の構造・形成・機能の理解に大きく寄与するとともに、持続型社会構築を担う木質バイオマス利用の促進のための基盤構築に貢献する成果である。