Studies of cytoplasmic freezing in land plants

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K19256
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 44:Biology at cellular to organismal levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Sato Yoshikatsu 名古屋大学, トランスフォーマティブ生命分子研究所, 特任准教授 (30414014)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: オルガネラ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Plants can not be capable of movement as individual organisms, but when observed under a microscope, a phenomenon known as cytoplasmic streaming can be observed, where protoplasm flows within the cytoplasm of their cells. Additionally, chloroplasts, the organelles responsible for photosynthesis, demonstrate a phenomenon called chloroplast photorelocation movement, where they appropriately redistribute in response to light stimulation. It has been known that the responsiveness of chloroplast photorelocation movement could vary depending upon the presence or absence of sugars. Furthermore, it has been also reported that chloroplast distribution could be induced by low-temperature and mechanical stimulation. In this study, using the moss species Physcomitrium patens, we discovered and analyzed a phenomenon wherein organelles within cells, including chloroplasts, halt in response to environmental signals.

Free Research Field

ライブセル生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、応募者自身による現象発見に端を発する芽生え期の研究であり完全にオリジナルな研究提案であり探索的性質が強く、導き出される学術的成果は独創的なものとなったと自負する。また、本研究は現象の解析基盤の創出から確立する必要があり、新たなライブセル解析システムを創出する価値があった。さらに本研究の成果は、新規現象の発見という学術的な意義をもたらすとともに、サイトプラスミックフリージング現象を指標とした植物ストレス応答機構の観点からバイオマス増産にも関与する可能性があり、農学分野の発展に寄与する社会的意義が見込まれる。