Identification of transcription factors involved in regulating expression of plant immune receptor genes

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K14893
• 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: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Adachi Hiroaki 京都大学, 農学研究科, 特定助教 (60909513)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 植物免疫 / 免疫受容体 / NLRタンパク質 / 転写因子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Plant cells possess NLR immune receptors, which recognize pathogen effector molecules and activate the plant immune system. An emerging model suggests that multiple functionally specialized NLRs participate in NLR immune receptor networks. However, the transcriptional regulation governing the co-expression of these cooperative NLRs in plant tissues remains largely unknown. Here, we focused on the NLR immune receptor networks in the Solanaceae family and analyzed the tissue-specific expression of NLR genes to identify potential transcriptional regulators. We compiled a list of NLR genes expressed in leaf and/or root tissues and extracted cis-elements enriched in their promoter regions. Despite our efforts over the past two years, we have yet to identify transcription factors that regulate the expression of plant NLR immune receptor genes.

Free Research Field

植物免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

植物NLR免疫系では、細胞死を伴う免疫反応を誘導することから、植物細胞にとってリスクとなり得る。しかし、植物NLR免疫系の制御機構については、未解明な点が多い。特に、複数のNLRが機能するNLRネットワークは、それぞれのNLR分子がどのように制御され、協調的に機能するのか明らかになっていない。本研究では、ナス科植物がもつNLR遺伝子の発現を制御する転写因子の探索を目的とした。研究成果として、根と葉で発現するNLR遺伝子のプロモーター領域に高頻度で存在するシス配列を同定した。今後、NLR遺伝子の転写制御機構の解明に繋がると期待される。