Comprehensive understanding of nitrate signaling in plants

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18H03940
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 38:Agricultural chemistry and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Yanagisawa Shuichi 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 教授 (20222359)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 窒素栄養 / 硝酸シグナル / 窒素応答 / 遺伝子発現制御 / 転写因子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In plants, nitrate acts as a signal and induces changes in gene expression profiles, metabolic balances, etc., referred to as nitrate responses. In this study, the physiological roles of nitrate as a signal were investigated by identifying new target genes of NLP transcription factors that govern nitrate responses and clarifying the functions of the new target genes. Identification of the aspartate oxidase gene required for de novo NAD+ biosynthesis and two homeodomain-leucine zipper class I transcription factors as direct target genes of the NLP transcription factors revealed that nitrate-dependent coordinated regulation of N assimilation and other metabolic pathways is essential to optimizing growth in response to N nutrient conditions.

Free Research Field

植物栄養学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

硝酸シグナルが窒素同化と他の代謝経路を同調的に制御していることが実証され、また、このような同調的制御が植物成長の最適化に重要であることも示されたことから、植物における硝酸シグナルの役割の理解が大きく進んだ。硝酸シグナルの新しい役割として葉緑体と光化学系の維持があることが明らかとなったこと、また、硝酸シグナルの伝達を強化すると光エネルギーの利用向上が起こる可能性があることを示したことは社会的意義も大きい。