Observation of transcription activity during the process of heat stress memory establishment

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15836
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 44040:Morphology and anatomical structure-related
• Research Institution: Yamagata University (2021-2022); The University of Tokyo (2020)
• Principal Investigator: Shibuta K. Mio (笠松未央) 山形大学, 理学部, 助教 (30849790)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: イメージング / 熱ストレス / 翻訳後修飾 / RNAポリメラーゼII / 核構造 / クロマチンダイナミクス / 転写制御 / シロイヌナズナ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Plants can make memory once they experience high temperature, and that memory allows them to cope with similar stress more efficiently. It is difficult to study chromatin dynamics and epigenetic regulation during establishment of the memory due to technical challenges. In this study, I introduced a live imaging method for observing post-translational modification in Arabidopsis thaliana, and attempted to elucidate the transcription regulation mechanism from the perspective of chromatin structure. I developed a live imaging method to monitor the transcription activity focusing on dynamics of RNA polymerase II, and I have submitted the results to several journals. In addition, NGS analysis suggested that post-translational modifications of RNA polymerase II are involved in the regulation of in the rapid heat stress response. I will continue to investigate the transcription regulation mechanism, with a specific focus on the nuclear dynamics of RNA polymerase II.

Free Research Field

植物分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で構築した転写活性レベルイメージングシステムは植物にとどまらず様々な真核生物に応用可能であり、ストレス応答、発生・再生といった生命現象の研究や翻訳後修飾ダイナミクスに着目した創薬開発の促進に貢献できると考えられる。また転写活性領域制御への関与が示唆されたRNAポリメラーゼII-C末端領域修飾による転写制御と、知見の豊富な転写因子による転写制御とのクロストークの解析を進めることで、多層的で緻密な転写制御機構の解明が期待できる。