Regulation of phospholipid balance via organelle interactions in a useful filamentous fungus

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K14767
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 38020:Applied microbiology-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Iwama Ryo 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 助教 (90793042)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 糸状菌 / Aspergillus nidulans / Aspergillus oryzae / 生体膜 / リン脂質 / リピドーム解析 / オルガネラ / ミトコンドリア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using a comprehensive quantitative analysis for major phospholipids, we investigated phospholipid profiles within disrupted strains of organelle contact sites in filamentous fungi. As a basis for phospholipid analysis in filamentous fungi, we clarified in detail the dynamics of phospholipids in filamentous fungi and the temporal transcriptional variations of genes implicated in their synthesis over time. Our analysis revealed a notable augmentation of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) during conidia germination, indicating a potential necessity for PE in maintaining regular mitochondrial morphology during the germination. Interestingly, our investigation of phospholipid composition in deletion strains of factors crucial to organelle contact site formation revealed consistent reductions in PE levels in multiple deletion strains.

Free Research Field

応用微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

人間生活と密接に関わる微生物の一つである糸状菌において、これまで精力的に研究が行われていなかったリン脂質組成を詳細に明らかにした。糸状菌の産業利用における重要な特性である細胞外タンパク質分泌には、これらリン脂質を主な構成要素とする生体膜動態が重要な要素となる。本研究では、さらに細胞内の膜同士の関連に関わる因子の解析も行った。本研究は、糸状菌の重要な細胞基盤の一つを明らかにするものである。