Study of metabolism and physiology contributing to thermotolerance

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K19317
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 44:Biology at cellular to organismal levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Obata Fumiaki 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 生命機能科学研究センター, チームリーダー (40748539)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Cataglyphis bombycina / Drosophila melanogaster / アミノ酸 / 代謝生理 / 熱耐性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study is to elucidate the comparative physiology of how the desert ant Cataglyphis bombycina, which is known to be highly thermotolerant, maintains homeostasis at high temperatures. The results show that C. bombycina has low levels of the amino acid lysine in its body. Feeding Drosophila on a lysine-restricted diet increased thermotolerance in both males and females. The lysine-restricted diet increased thermotolerance by a mechanism that neither affected the induction of heat response protein expression nor depended on autophagy. Lysine restriction prolonged the lifespan of Drosophila. It is clear that a reduction in the lysine levels in the body may increase thermostability and lifespan.

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Free Research Field

栄養代謝生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、高温耐性を有する砂漠アリC. bombycinaの特徴的な恒常性維持機構に根ざした代謝生理学的な知見を得る事が出来た。アミノ酸の一つの体内量が高温耐性に関わることはこれまで知られていない新しい発見であると考えられる。また、アリとショウジョウバエなど異なる昆虫間での比較生理学的な解析により、未知の代謝恒常性機構や生物の生存戦略について理解する事が可能となる可能性を示すことができ、理学的な知見を提供するものと考えられる。