Differentiation of oxygen-tolerant nitrogen-fixing organ in the actinobacterium Frankia

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K05772
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38020:Applied microbiology-related
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: KUCHO Ken-ichi 鹿児島大学, 理工学域理学系, 教授 (70404473)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 窒素固定 / 放線菌 / 酸素 / 順遺伝学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this project, we focused on the actinobacteria genus Frankia, which possesses nitrogen-fixing ability, to elucidate the differentiation process and genetic basis of the vesicle. Frankia has a unique function that allows it to fix nitrogen even in high oxygen environments, and the formation of vesicles is essential for this ability. In this study, we analyzed phenotypes of vesicles in the mutants that lacked the ability to fix nitrogen. Additionally, we identified genes involved in vesicle formation and attempted to verify their function through complementation experiments.

Free Research Field

分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、窒素を固定する能力を持つ微生物Frankiaの特有な器官ベシクルの形成過程を詳しく調べ、それに関わる遺伝子についての知見を得た。これにより、植物が必要とする窒素養分を化学肥料に頼らず自然の方法で供給できる可能性が高まり、持続可能な農業や環境保全に役立つことが期待される。