Structure-activity relationship study of differentiation-inducing molecules that control the life cycle of large algae

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K06638
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 47050:Environmental and natural pharmaceutical resources-related
• Research Institution: Tokushima Bunri University
• Principal Investigator: Yamamoto Hirofumi 徳島文理大学, 薬学部, 教授 (70461366)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 構造活性相関 / 化学合成 / 分化誘物質 / アサクサノリ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Neopyropia tenera was once cultivated along the coasts of Japan. However, N. tenera is now listed as an endangered species (CR+EN) of red algae. In recent years, the amount of harvested seaweed has continued to decline due to rising seawater temperatures and changes in water quality. Under these circumstances, we have been searching for small organic molecules that promote the normal life cycle of N. tenera. As a result, it was found that the optically active hydantoin derivative exhibits effective monospore differentiation-inducing activity against N. tenera. In this research, the structure-activity relationship study of the hydantoin derivative and land-based aquaculture of N. tenera were carried out with the aim of further advancing this new knowledge and applying it to actual aquaculture.

Free Research Field

ケミカルバイオロジー

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

海苔の養殖はドリュー女史がその生活環を明らかにしたことで始まった。しかし、その生活環における世代交代のメカニズムや発現因子等については不明で、その後の技術開発が進まない要因の一つになってきた。特に、無性生殖サイクルにおいては、これまでも養殖技術への応用を念頭に様々な研究グープや自治体が注目してきたが、鍵となる単胞子への分化を誘導する条件や効果的な物質の特定には至っていない。したがって、本研究成果から得られた単胞子分化誘導物質と，それを利用したアサクサノリ単胞子の採苗、葉状体への培養などの研究成果は，学術的領域から実養殖まで広範囲に影響を与える社会的インパクトの高い成果である。