Identification of a coniferin transporter in differentiating xylem of poplar

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K15296
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Wood science
• Research Institution: University of Miyazaki
• Principal Investigator: Tsuyama Taku 宮崎大学, 農学部, 助教 (40786183)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: トランスポーター / コニフェリン / p-グルコクマリルアルコール / リグニン / 木化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Elucidating lignin biosynthesis is important to utilize biomass, however, there is very little knowledge on the step of transport of lignin precursors from the cytosol to the cell wall in lignifying tissue. Coniferin transport has been found in differentiating xylem of woody plants although the role of the coniferin transport is unclear.
In the present study candidates of a coniferin transporter were found in differentiating xylem of poplar by proteomic analysis. Furthermore, transport activity of p-glucocoumaryl alcohol in differentiating xylem of both poplar and Japanese cypress as well as transport activities of coniferin and p-glucocoumaryl alcohol in bamboo shoots was found in the present study. Transporters of coniferin and p-glucocoumaryl alcohol may be conserved in lignifying tissue of vascular plants.

Free Research Field

木質科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は、全ての維管束植物の生存に必須なリグニン生合成において未解明なステップである、リグニン前駆物質の輸送メカニズムに関して新たな知見を与えるものであり、学術的な意義は非常に大きい。特にコニフェリン輸送体およびp-グルコクマリルアルコール輸送体が、針葉樹や広葉樹、単子葉類にまで至る幅広い植物種に存在する可能性が示唆された。本研究によりポプラにおけるコニフェリン輸送体候補が絞り込まれたが、この知見を元にした更なる研究により、バイオマスの有効活用が可能になることが期待される。