Integrated approach for elucidating molecular actions of flavonoids in endoreduplcation and development

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K07723
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Bioorganic chemistry
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Science
• Principal Investigator: Morohashi Kengo 東京理科大学, 理工学部応用生物科学科, 准教授 (60748937)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: システム生物学 / ケミカルバイオロジー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Plants produce secondary metabolites that significantly affect biological systems in diverse organisms and are beneficial for microbes, plants, and animals. Despite the importance of flavonoids to various biological systems, their role, particularly in gene regulation, is largely unknown. However, identification of flavonoid-associated proteins is technically challenging since affinities between small molecules and proteins are relatively low. To overcome the problem, I used an innovative method called phage display coupled with next-generation sequencing (PD-Seq), which I have developed to successfully dissect individual metabolite-protein interactions. Successfully, more than 2,000 amino acid sequences were identified as potential targets of flavonoids. These results lead me for further elucidation of the biological processes underlying development and flavonoid interactions.

Free Research Field

システム生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

フラボノイドが多様なタンパク質に作用している可能性や、形態形成プログラムにおいて遺伝子発現のばらつきを調整している可能性を示唆する結果を得ることに成功した。これはフラボノイドが動物においても多様な動態を示すことと矛盾はなく、本研究結果を健康医学に適用することも視野に入れたい。