Elucidation of the interaction mechanism between ER-plasma membrane contact sites and bacteria to confer broad-spectrum resistance

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K14892
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 39040:Plant protection science-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Ishikawa Kazuya 岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 助教 (10791642)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 植物病原細菌 / ER-細胞膜接着部位 / 病害抵抗性 / 大腸菌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the present study, I failed to identify the bacterial species that infect using the ER-plasma membrane contact sites. On the other hand, I developed a culture medium that mimics the plant environment to easily investigate bacterial factors responsible for growth in plants. Using this system, we successfully identified genes responsible for growth in the plant environment that are common to Escherichia coli and Pectobacterium carotovorum, a pathogen of soft rot disease on Brassica Furthermore, it was suggested that plant pathogenic bacteria acquire heme from plants in the same way as animal pathogenic bacteria. These　developed techniques and findings contribute to elucidating the factors required for bacterial growth on plants.

Free Research Field

植物保護

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で開発した植物環境を模倣した培地は、植物中での生育に必要な細菌因子の探索に用いることができる。また、植物病原細菌が動物病原細菌と同様に植物のヘムを収奪し利用している可能性が示唆されたことは非常に興味深い。ヘムは植物と細菌の双方に必須な補酵素である一方で、不足しがちな分子であることから病原体と動物宿主の間では、ヘムを巡る分子攻防が行われていることが知られている。広範な病原体に対する植物抵抗性の付与のターゲットとして、ヘムが有望であると考えられる。