Elucidation of transcriptional regulation by rice immune response using eQTL analysis

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K20582
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0602:Agricultural and environmental biology and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Sakai Toshiyuki 京都大学, 農学研究科, 助教 (50911682)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: eQTL解析 / 発現差異解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

One of the rice cultivar "Hitomebore" has Pii gene, which is a resistance gene, and shows resistance to rice blast fungus. However, it is still unknown what genes are important and involved when the Pii gene activates the resistance response.
In this research project, we identified the regulatory relationship of genes that are considered to be important in the resistance response activated by the Pii gene. Specifically, we conducted an eQTL analysis targeting gene expression levels and found that OsWRKY77, one of the WRKY-type transcription factors in rice, was found to induce the expressions of 10 genes related to resistance responses when the Pii gene was activated.

Free Research Field

Forward genetics

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

植物免疫システムにおいて、NLRタンパク質は病原菌のエフェクタータンパク質を認識し、細胞死を誘導することで植物に病害抵抗性を付与している。しかしNLRタンパク質がどの様に細胞死を誘導しているのかは明らかになっていない。
本研究では、NLRタンパク質の１つであるPiiがイネの抵抗性反応を活性化する際に、どの様な遺伝子が発現制御関係にあるのかを解明した。本研究成果はNLRタンパク質が細胞死を誘導するまでに、どの様な遺伝子が発現し、機能しているかを解明するための重要な情報となる。