Molecular mechanisms for asymmetric cell division in monocot plants

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06689
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 44030:Plant molecular biology and physiology-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan University
• Principal Investigator: Kinoshita Atsuko 東京都立大学, 理学研究科, 助教 (00612079)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 受精卵 / 分化全能性 / 細胞分化 / 非対称分裂

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The fusion of male and female gametes produces a zygote, a totipotent stem cell, which gives rise to an embryo. The totipotency of the zygote is lost during embryogenesis, and the cells are gradually differentiated into specific cells. This process varies among species and has been examined by various experimental techniques. In angiosperm, the asymmetric cell division of the zygote is thought to be a critical step for the establishment of the apical-basal axis. Although the embryonic cell lineage is well-defined in dicots, such as Arabidopsis, it is still unclear how the zygotic cell division contributes to the following embryogenesis in monocots. To address this question, we adopted a unique technique, the rice in vitro fertilization (IVF) system. Here, we present the development of two daughter cells isolated from a 2-cell embryo and discuss the possible role of zygotic asymmetric division in rice.

Free Research Field

植物生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

植物の細胞は，外部刺激に応答して脱分化し，個体へと再生する分化全能性を有することが知られている。しかしながら，全ての細胞が一様に脱分化を引き起こすとは限らない。植物細胞の分化全能性はどのように獲得され，どのように限定化されていくのか。この問いに答えるため，本研究ではイネの受精卵発生過程に着目した発生学的解析を行った。本研究の成果は，細胞の分化状態を規定する分子メカニズムの解明という基礎的な知見をもたらすのみならず，作物の育種や品種改良などの応用的な利用にもつながる可能性が期待される。