Investigation for genetic basis of traits that were acquired or lost in environmental bacteria to be insect intracellular symbionts

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K14865
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 39050:Insect science-related
• Research Institution: Akita Prefectural University
• Principal Investigator: Takeshita Kazutaka 秋田県立大学, 生物資源科学部, 助教 (40799194)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞内共生 / カメムシ / パラバークホルデリア / 進化 / 遺伝子組換え共生細菌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, I tried to identify the bacterial genes essential to intracellular symbiosis with the host insect via the experimental approach with genetically manipulated bacterial symbionts. By comparative genomic analysis, I extracted 136 genes as candidates. For the 20 candidates, I constructed deletion mutants of the bacterial symbiont and performed infection experiments with the host insect. However, all mutants were able to establish the normal symbiotic association with the host. Therefore, I concluded these 20 genes are not involved in intracellular symbiosis and will continue to examine the remaining candidates.

Free Research Field

微生物生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では細胞内共生に関わる細菌側責任遺伝子の同定には至らなかったものの、候補遺伝子のリストアップは完了した。これらの中には責任遺伝子だけでなく、共生系の進化において重要な役割を果たした遺伝子も含まれているはずであり、そのような候補を絞り込めた点で重要な成果と言える。残りの候補遺伝子を対象に引き続き検証実験を行い、昆虫細胞内共生の分子基盤や進化プロセスの解明に繋げたい。