Molecular Basis Involved in the Formation of Plasmodesmata, Crucial Structures for Plant Multicellularity

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02516
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 44040:Morphology and anatomical structure-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: FUJITA Tomomichi 北海道大学, 理学研究院, 教授 (50322631)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 植物細胞間コミュニケーション / アブシジン酸 / 原形質連絡密度

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Plasmodesmata (PD) have long been known as essential structures for intercellular communication in plants. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of PD, as well as the regulation of their structure and density, remain largely unknown. In this study, we focused on the study that PD density is reduced by more than half in mutants of the moss Physcomitrium patens, which have lost multicellularity, and in brood cells induced by the plant hormone abscisic acid. We elucidated part of the molecular regulatory mechanism involved in this process. Additionally, we provided an insight whether this molecular basis is conserved across streptophytes, including both charophyte algae and land plants.

Free Research Field

植物生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

植物の細胞間コミュニケーションに不可欠な細胞壁にあるナノサイズの構造として原形質連絡(PD)の存在が19世紀後半に初めて提唱された。その後、1960年前後になりこの構造は電子顕微鏡で広く陸上植物等に存在することが確認されたが、PDがどのように形作られ、またその密度がどのように制御されるかなどに関わる分子制御基盤はまだ多くの点で解明されていなかった。本研究によりこの一端の仕組みを明らかにすることができた。したがって学術的意義は極めて高い。