2022 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
The evolutionary transition from minimal cells to organelles
| Project/Area Number |
21K15070
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| Research Institution | Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University |
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Principal Investigator |
枡鏡 優美子 沖縄科学技術大学院大学, 進化・細胞・共生の生物学ユニット, 技術員 (10839848)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
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| Keywords | Comparative genomics / Free-living bacteria / Symbiotic bacteria / Evolutional transition / Genome reduction / Multi-omics |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
This research project aims to study the evolutionary transition from the simplest self-replicating bacteria to highly host-dependent symbiotic bacteria, along the path of free-living bacteria to eventually organelles. To better understand how free-living bacteria become host-dependent, the research focuses on comparative genomics on the details what kind of genes are lost or acquired. Multi-omics and microscopic approaches are combined to reveal a functional comparison of two distinct bacteria.
Detailed gene comparisons are currently performed on simplest self-replicating Mycoplasma spp. and highly host-dependent insect symbiotic bacteria Tremblaya using several different bioinformatics tools.
Multiple different electron microscopy methods are applied and tested to reveal ultrastructural morphological differences on these two distinct bacteria in their host cell systems. Metabolomics as functional comparisons are currently in progress as collaborative project with several different research departments at the University of Melbourne.
New genomic project relates to the proposal has been started as there is new interesting Spiroplasma species, same genus as Mycoplasma spp., found in the coral host. This new project has potential to answer the evolutional transition of free-living to symbiotic bacteria.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
This research project is progressing rather smoothly in 2022 as all proposed experiments and approaches are currently in progress and collaborative work has been started and progressing.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Complete comparative genomics on two distinct bacteria using multiple bioinformatics tools. Images on electron microscopy to investigate morphological differences in host cell could be improved in 2023. Collaborative work on mycoplasma infection system in cultured cell for the metabolomics and microscopy observation will be progressed in 2023.
Because we found interesting relationship of Spiroplasma spp., same genus Mollicutes as Mycoplasmas, and coral host, I expand genomics analysis on this project. This new project also has potential to shed the light on evolutional transition of free-living bacteria to symbiotic bacteria as I proposed in the research proposal.
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| Causes of Carryover |
Incurring amount to be used next fiscal year has been occurred as I had to save grants for upcoming experiments with collaborative work with University of Melbourne. Also the incurring grants will be used for conference attendance in 2023.
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