Study on the circadian rhythm-independent cell-cycle regulation mediated by photoresponse of S. japonicus

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22637
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0701:Biology at molecular to cellular levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: National Institute of Genetics
• Principal Investigator: MIYAKE Yukari 国立遺伝学研究所, 遺伝形質研究系, 特任研究員 (80874560)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ジャポニカス分裂酵母 / 光応答 / 菌糸誘導 / 遺伝子発現変動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Schizosaccharomyces japonicus can grow both as unicellular yeast and filamentous hyphae, depending on environmental changes. Although S. japonicus does not show circadian rhythms, it can still synchronously activate the cytokinesis of hyphae in response to light or temperature change. In this study, we isolated up- or down-regulated genes during the yeast-to-hypha transition. Hundreds of gene-deletion mutants showed that this organism responds to light or temperature stimuli by using both unique genes and genes conserved among other fission yeast and fungi. This study also suggested that the cross-regulation exists between the two signal transduction pathways of light and temperature response.

Free Research Field

ゲノム生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

自然環境中において光や温度は周期的に変化するが、これらは天候や季節などに大きく左右される。本研究成果からジャポニカス分裂酵母は光と温度という2つの異なる応答システムを併用することでその変化を柔軟に感知し、多様な環境下で概日リズムと同等の細胞周期制御を実現しているものと考えられる。加えて他の真菌類にも保存される遺伝子群の光・温度応答への関与が示唆されたことは、今後の真菌全体の、複数の感知システムを介した応答メカニズムの解明にもつながるものである。