Analysis of the mechanism for apical-basal axis formation in plants by data-driven strategy

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K15117
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 44030:Plant molecular biology and physiology-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Kimata Yusuke 東北大学, 生命科学研究科, 助教 (10893307)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞極性 / 胚発生 / トランスクリプトーム / ライブイメージング / シロイヌナズナ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Asymmetric division of the zygote is essential for the axis formation in plants but the molecular mechanism is unknown. In this study, we successfully isolated zygotes and obtained RNA-seq data. We found a down-regulation of about 200 genes in the mutants. Among the genes whose expression was reduced in the mutants, we obtained T-DNA lines of genes considered to be involved in asymmetric division and observed the phenotypes of them were observed, and in some of them, asymmetric division of zygotes was impaired. In the future, the specific functions of these genes will be investigated by live imaging, which is expected to aid elucidation of the molecular mechanism of asymmetric division.

Free Research Field

植物発生学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

植物の体軸形成過程では、受精後にどのような遺伝子が働いて受精卵を不等分裂させるのかがほとんど不明であった。我々はトランスクリプトーム解析に基づく逆遺伝学的な解析から、植物受精卵の不等分裂を担う実働因子の候補を同定することに成功した。今後、これらの遺伝子の具体的な機能を解明することで、植物全体に共通した形作りの制御機構の理解や、胚発生の人為的な制御も可能になると期待できる。