Mechanism of phenotype diversification by bacterial methylome

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K14672
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 43050:Genome biology-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Furuta Yoshikazu 北海道大学, 人獣共通感染症国際共同研究所, 講師 (40613667)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: DNA修飾 / エピゲノム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To analyze how DNA methylation affect phenotype of bacterial cells, we aimed to develop an E. coli library with diversity in DNA methylation status by developing DNA methyltransferase enzyme with various DNA methylation target sequence utilizing one-hybrid method and also by searching a DNA methyltransferase with unknown target sequence from databases.
The former didn't work well as it was difficult to obtain an enzyme with ideal activity with enough specificity and biochemical activity. For the latter, we discovered a novel DNA methyltransferase with complex target sequence.

Free Research Field

ゲノム細菌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

データベース中のDNAメチル化酵素の活性を探索することで、今回のような複雑なメチル化ターゲット配列を示すものを得られたことによって、バクテリアのメチル化パターンの多様性が示された。今後はこうした複雑なメチル化を施すDNAメチル化酵素の役割や、環境中のバクテリア中のメチル化パターンの多様性について、解析を行っていく。