Association between acquisition of virulence factors and Argonaute protein in bacteria

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06494
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 43010:Molecular biology-related
• Research Institution: Matsumoto Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Miyoshi Tomohiro 松本歯科大学, 歯学部, 講師 (60534550)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 石津 大嗣 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 講師 (40574588)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: small RNA / Argonaute / DNA silencing

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research project, we performed a functional analysis of the prokaryotic Argonaute, which has not been clarified yet. Expression of Argonaute in E. coli caused changes in the infectivity of some bacteriophages. Furthermore, the expression of Argonaute was shown to elongate the cell morphology of E. coli. This result is similar to the result when the DNA amplification reaction was inhibited by a drug, suggesting that Argonaute is involved in the DNA amplification reaction in prokaryotic cells. We have also succeeded in identifying health-contributing bacteria that are essential for investigating the association between Argonaute and indigenous/pathogens.

Free Research Field

RNA生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現在、世界的に感染性微生物の病原性や薬剤耐性獲得の問題が大きくなりつつある。この微生物の病原性や薬剤耐性獲得は、外来遺伝子の獲得によって行われている。本研究では、外来遺伝子の獲得と Argonauteの機能に着目したものである。本研究成果は、 Argonauteに結合した小分子RNAの機能を調べ、微生物の病原性獲得との関連性を示した研究のため、医学的な観点から学術的及び社会的意義が大きい成果が得られた。