Elucidation and characterization of a novel starvation-response in animals controlled by nucleic-acid molecules

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22418
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 44:Biology at cellular to organismal levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Masuda Shinji 東京工業大学, 生命理工学院, 教授 (30373369)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 緊縮応答 / 栄養飢餓 / ppGpp

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) plays a crucial role during nutritional starvation in bacteria. We previously demonstrated the presence and role of ppGpp in photosynthetic bacteria and plants, but its function in animals remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the function of ppGpp by accumulating it in the photoreceptor cells of Drosophila. The results showed that high accumulation of ppGpp in the tissues induces cell death. This finding indicates that ppGpp can function within animal cells as well. This research is important for understanding the role of ppGpp in animals and for uncovering new mechanisms of nutritional response.

Free Research Field

分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

すべての生物にとって栄養状態をモニタリングするシステムは必須であり、その制御機構の解明は重要な課題である。特に多細胞生物では、栄養状態の調節の破綻が癌や老化と関連しており、その研究の重要性が増している。バクテリアでは、グアノシンテトラリン酸（ppGpp）が栄養飢餓状態を耐え忍ぶために重要な役割を果たしている。動物におけるppGppの役割に関する本研究の成果は、動物の新たな栄養応答機構を解明する上で重要な知見を提供する。