Novel chemical control for the production of useful plant substances

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K19160
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 38:Agricultural chemistry and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Science
• Principal Investigator: Kuchitsu Kazuyuki 東京理科大学, 創域理工学部生命生物科学科, 教授 (50211884)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 特化代謝 / ジャスモン酸 / サリチル酸 / 構造活性相関 / フェニルプロパノイド経路 / 植物 / 病虫害抵抗性 / バイオスティミュラント

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Although it has generally been considered that the salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) pathways in plants function antagonistically, we have discovered a novel compound that induces the accumulation of JA and, slightly later, SA when applied to Arabidopsis. This compound also induces the expression of specialized metabolism-related genes, such as those in the phenylpropanoid pathway. By synthesizing structural analogs and conducting structure-activity relationship analyses, we identified functional groups with minimal impact on activity. Based on these findings, we synthesized several biotinylated derivatives and advanced the search and identification of candidate target proteins. Comprehensive investigation of the effects on gene expression and metabolite analysis in plant cultured cells revealed that this compound is effective across a wide range of plant species, including bryophytes.

Free Research Field

植物分子生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ジャスモン酸経路と共にサリチル酸経路も活性化する、類例のない活性を持つ化合物の作用メカニズムの解明を進められたことにより、代謝制御や病虫害耐性の情報伝達系解明のための有効な分子ツールの候補を確立できた。さらに化合物による特化代謝の制御、病原体や害虫に対する抵抗性誘導、バイオスティミュラントなど、さまざまな応用を目指した化合物の探索・開発のためのリードとなることが期待される。ゲノム編集に代表される植物の遺伝的制御と相互補完的な、植物の化学制御技術開発の基盤となると期待される。