Identification of nuclear-encoded RNAs in mitochondria in budding yeast

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K15108
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 44010:Cell biology-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Sangyo University
• Principal Investigator: Saori Shinoda 京都産業大学, 生命科学部, 研究員 (60873205)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ミトコンドリア / 近位依存性標識法 / RNA-seq / FISH / 酵母 / in vitro再構成 / 機能性RNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

More than 50 years ago, the transport machinery of nuclear-encoded RNAs into mitochondria was discovered. However, due to the challenges associated with experimental methods and analysis, a comprehensive analysis has not been conducted to date, and the complete scope of the phenomenon remains elusive. In this study, we aimed to identify the RNAs transported into mitochondria using budding yeast. A method for specifically labeling RNAs inside mitochondria was developed, followed by RNA-seq analysis to comprehensively examine the transported RNAs. The identified candidate gene was confirmed to be genuine RNAs imported into mitochondria through analysis of subcellular localization FISH and in vitro reconstitution of RNA transport to mitochondria.

Free Research Field

分子細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は2019年に報告されたRNAの直接ラベル化という新技術を取り入れ, 真核モデル生物である出芽酵母におけるミトコンドリアへ輸送される新規RNAの同定に成功した. 本研究で構築した一連の解析手法はヒトなど別の生物にも適用可能であり, 今後の生物種を超えたミトコンドリへ輸送されるRNAの解析の基盤となるため, 学術的に意義のある成果である. また, ミトコンドリアRNA輸送の全容が解明できれば, 将来的にmtDNAゲノム編集によるミトコンドリア病治療へ展開することが期待されるため, 重要な基礎研究であると考えられる.