Studies on the function and ecology of a novel Armatimonadetes bacterium

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06088
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 39060:Conservation of biological resources-related
• Research Institution: Hirosaki University
• Principal Investigator: TONOUCHI AKIO 弘前大学, 農学生命科学部, 教授 (50302021)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 難培養性細菌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The phylum of Armatimonadetes bacteria, which is difficult to culture, and only four species have been described; thus, their ecologies and functions have been uncleared. Therefore, from its analysis, we attempted to predict the function and ecology of C. corticalis, one of the described species belonging to the phylum Armatimonadetes. Metagenomic and culture analyses revealed that C. corticalis prefers cedar bark as a habitat and rejects porcupine bark. In addition, C. corticalis had a high tolerance to desiccation, suggesting that they are adapted to a desiccating bark environment. The high molecular weight polysaccharide produced by C. corticalis was neutral, consisting of glucose, galactose, mannose, and xylose.

Free Research Field

環境微生物

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Armatimonadetes門細菌は12のサブグループで構成される系統的に多様な門であり、様々な環境に見出される細菌グループであるが、わずか4種しか分離・記載されておらず、その生態や機能は不明である。本研究では、本門のCapsulimonas corticalis AX-7を用いて、その生態解明を非培養法（メタゲノム解析）と培養法の両面から明らかにすることを試み、当該種は中性多糖生産性で乾燥耐性を有し、生息の場としてスギ樹皮を好みヤマナラシ樹皮を忌避することを明らかにした。これは本門細菌に関しての生態解明に関しては初めての例である。また、本研究を通じて多糖の利用研究に発展させることができた。