Structural insight into the regulation of genes controlling the legume nodule for improving agricultural traits in crops

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K14824
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 38030:Applied biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Nosaki Shohei 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 助教 (20850910)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 転写因子 / 構造生物学 / マメ科植物 / 根粒形成 / 窒素栄養応答

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Because legumes have a mechanism to suppress root nodule symbiosis by themselves in soils rich in nitrogen nutrients, it has been difficult to achieve the desired agricultural traits of both root nodule symbiosis and the acquisition of nitrogen nutrients through fertilizers. In this study, we aimed to develop leguminous plants that can coexist with root nodules even in nutrient-rich soil environments, and attempted to elucidate the mechanism by which nodule formation is controlled by the key transcription factors from a physical and chemical perspective. During the two-year research period, we deepened our understanding of the transcriptional control system that underlies the basis of nodule formation control and nitrogen nutrient response. In addition, new findings were also obtained regarding the molecular transition between the transcription factor NIN, which controls nodule symbiosis, and the nitrogen nutrient response regulator NLP during the acquisition of nodule symbiosis.

Free Research Field

応用生物化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、マメ科植物を代表とする根粒共生植物の根粒形成ならびに窒素栄養応答を制御する転写制御システムの理解を飛躍的に高めたといえる。また、根粒共生植物を制御する転写因子が窒素栄養応答の制御因子からどのような分子変遷を辿り根粒共生獲得を駆動したのかという点について新たな知見をもたらすことができた。将来的にダイズなどの農業上重要なマメ科植物の中で眠る潜在能力を最大限に引き出すための基盤知見になると期待される。