Mechanism of lateral root development controlled by VLCFA

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H03251
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 44030:Plant molecular biology and physiology-related
• Research Institution: Meijo University
• Principal Investigator: Tsukagoshi Hironaka 名城大学, 農学部, 准教授 (30594056)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 志水 元亨 名城大学, 農学部, 准教授 (20423535)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 側根発達 / 転写ネットワーク / イメージング / VLCFA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using lateral root development as a model to understand the transition from cellular dedifferentiation to differentiation, the goal of this study was to elucidate the existence of a new molecular mechanism of cell differentiation that utilizes very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA) as a signaling molecule.
In this study, we identified VRTF1, a transcription factor that exhibits VLCFA-specific expression changes, based on RNAseq analysis using mutants with reduced VLCFA levels, and proceeded with its functional analysis.
Detailed phenotypic analysis revealed that VRTF1 is involved in the late stage of lateral root development and regulates the expression of cell wall remodeling genes in the main root cell above the lateral root primordium, rather than in the lateral root primordium itself, thereby controlling the emergence of lateral roots from the main root.

Free Research Field

植物分子遺伝学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果から、植物の側根発達に植物ホルモンとは異なる新たな制御系が関わることを示すことができた。これまで、細胞膜やクチクラの構成成分と言われていた極長鎖脂肪酸(VLCFA)が、転写因子の発現を制御することで側根発達をコントロールしているという新たな発見に繋がった。側根発達は植物の根圏拡大において非常に重要なイベントで、これを植物ホルモンとは異なる制御系でコントロールできる基盤技術の開発につながるといえる。