Study on the diversity and the origin of terpenoids in soft corals and sponges

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07114
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 47050:Environmental and natural pharmaceutical resources-related
• Research Institution: University of the Ryukyus
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Junichi 琉球大学, 理学部, 教授 (20163529)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 海綿 / ソフトコーラル / テルペノイド / テルペン環化酵素 / メタゲノムDNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this project, we examined extraction conditions for obtaining good quality metagenomic DNAs from sponge specimens and also for genes of terpene cyclases from soft coral specimens.
Although we tried various methods to prepare metagenomic DNAs from live sponges collected along the Okinawan coast, we could not find a general method applicable to any sponge species. On the other hand, metagenomic DNAs from soft corals can be prepared relatively easily and candidates for terpene cyclases were found by comparing with known terpene cyclases.
Dr. Jomori, who joined our laboratory in the third year, contributed to this project.

Free Research Field

海洋天然物化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

海綿やソフトコーラルなどの含有成分には、生理活性や特異な分子構造で注目されるものが多く見出されてきた。21世紀に入ってからそれらの分子の形成に関与する生合成遺伝子が明らかにされつつあるが、まだまだ多くのものが未解明である。
この研究では、まだ試行錯誤状態である海綿からのメタゲノムDNA抽出条件の検討、およびソフトコーラル類のテルペン環化に関与する遺伝子について、沖縄沿岸の生きた海洋生物試料を用いて挑戦することとした。