Elucidation of osmotic stress sensing mechanisms in plants.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15496
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 38060:Applied molecular and cellular biology-related
• Research Institution: National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (2021-2022); The University of Tokyo (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Soma Fumiyuki 国立研究開発法人農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構, 作物研究部門, 研究員 (50869097)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 乾燥ストレス / 初期応答機構 / SnRK2キナーゼ / ストレス耐性作物 / アブシシン酸

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Osmotic stresses, such as drought and high-salinity, negatively affect crop productivity. We need to elucidate the osmotic-stress sensing mechanisms in plants to improve stress tolerance. A plant hormone abscisic acid and SnRK2 protein kinases act as master regulators of osmotic stress responses. However, the initial responses of SnRK2s in response to osmotic stress are remain unknown. Then we performed interactome analysis of SnRK2, and we identified RAF kinases as interactors of SnRK2s. We revealed that accumulated or transported abscisic acid in response to osmotic stress activate RAF-SnRK2 cascade for initial response to osmotic stresses. These results were published in the international journal PNAS.

Free Research Field

植物分子生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

干ばつ等の水分欠乏ストレスの初期応答において重要なRAFキナーゼを同定した。このRAFキナーゼは高等植物に広く保存されており、ストレス耐性作物の育種マーカーとして利用できる可能性がある。また、このRAFキナーゼをターゲットとした活性調整剤の開発や、ゲノム編集技術により、干ばつ耐性を持つ作物を作出できる可能性がある。これらの研究成果は、地球環境劣悪化による食料問題を解決に貢献できると期待できる。