Unraveling the regulatory mechanisms underlying transcriptome reprograming conferring pathogen resistance

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H02960
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 39040:Plant protection science-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University (2020-2022); Ritsumeikan University (2019)
• Principal Investigator: Mine Akira 京都大学, 農学研究科, 准教授 (80793819)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 植物免疫 / 遺伝子発現制御 / Long noncoding RNA / シグナル伝達 / 細胞間コミュニケーション

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Upon pathogen recognition, plants reprogram gene expression at a genome-wide level, leading to pathogen resistance. However, it is poorly understood which molecular players participate in the regulation of transcriptional reprogramming that confers pathogen resistance. Based on our previous study, we hypothesized roles of a AHL transcription factor and a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in the regulation of transcriptional reprogramming. In this study, we have shown that the AHL transcription factor induces chromatin remodeling and regulate defense gene expression. Moreover, we have found that overexpression of this AHL transcription factor confers pathogen resistance under an immune-suppressive high-temperature condition. We have also uncovered that the long noncoding RNA encodes a small peptide with an N-terminal signal peptide sequence, and that this secreted peptide has a dual function in defense activation and reproduction.

Free Research Field

植物病理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

植物の免疫応答はゲノムワイドな遺伝子発現変動を伴うが、その制御機構については不明な点が多い。本研究では、AHL転写因子による免疫関連遺伝子の制御機構の一端を明らかにした。特に、AHL転写因子の過剰発現が高温による抑制に対して頑健な病害抵抗性を付与するという発見は、深刻化する地球温暖化に対応した植物病害防除技術の開発に繋がるかもしれない。また、新規に発見したlncRNAがコードする分泌型ペプチドが、免疫応答の活性化だけでなく、生殖過程も調節することを発見した。この成果は、病害抵抗性の向上だけでなく、病原体感染による結実率の低下を緩和する技術開発に繋がるかもしれない。