Analysis of the regulation mechanism of cell fusion in filamentous fungi

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K15242
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Applied microbiology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Katayama Takuya 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 特任助教 (70792191)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 糸状菌 / 細胞融合 / 麹菌 / Aspergillus oryzae / MAPキナーゼ / 転写制御

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cell fusion occurs during vegetative growth in filamentous fungi unlike yeasts. We previously identified pezizomycotina-specific novel protein FipC and showed its involvement in regulation of cell fusion.
In the present study, we investigated the genetic relationship between FipC and its interactors, an MAP kinase AoFus3 and a transcription factor AoSte12, and showed the regulation of cell fusion-related genes by FipC via AoSte12. In addition, we identified two novel interactors of FipC. These results will contribute to elucidation of the filamentous fungi specific regulation mechanism of cell fusion.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

糸状菌に特異な細胞融合制御機構には未解明な部分が多いが、FipCの解析を進めることでその解明に繋がると考えられる。細胞融合制御機構の解析が進めば、細胞融合効率の低い麹菌A. oryzaeの効率的な融合が可能となり、ひいては現在困難な交配育種の実現に繋がることが期待される。