Plant environmental response systems via RNA structural dynamics

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21415
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 44:Biology at cellular to organismal levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Ohtani Misato 東京大学, 大学院新領域創成科学研究科, 教授 (60435633)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: RNA高次構造 / 植物環境応答 / pre-mRNAスプライシング / 選択的スプライシング / UsnRNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, the molecular mechanisms of an RNA-mediated environmental response were elucidated, focusing on ‘RNA secondary structure dynamics’ as a specific system for robust expression of cellular traits in plants. Our analysis revealed that temperature shift- and cellular stress-induced changes in pre-mRNA splicing would be mediated by changes in pre-mRNA secondary structure and quantitative changes in the splicing machinery. These results demonstrate the importance of RNA secondary structural dynamics in plant environmental responses.

Free Research Field

RNA生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

植物の環境応答におけるRNA高次構造の重要性が明らかとなったことで、動かない植物がどのように環境に適した発生や成長を達成しているのか、その多層的な環境調和型生存戦略の理解が大きく前進した。さらにこのメカニズムの応用により、植物の環境耐性向上の技術開発が可能になると考えられ、持続可能社会に向けた作物増産・カーボンニュートラル促進が期待される。