2023 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

Fundamental understanding of phenylpropanoid, lignin and flavonoid biosynthesis regulated by metabolon formation in grasses for precise manipulation to improve biomass utility

Research Project

Project/Area Number	22K20590
Research Institution	Akita University
Principal Investigator	Lam PuiYing 秋田大学, 理工学研究科, 助教 (60961711)
Project Period (FY)	2022-08-31 – 2025-03-31
Keywords	Lignin / Flavonoids / Phenylprppanoids / Metabolic formation / grasses
Outline of Annual Research Achievements	The proposed research aims to determine the global organization of metabolons (protein-protein interaction networks) and metabolic channelling of the biosynthetic enzymes of lignin together with the closely related parallel flavonoid and upstream phenylpropanoid pathway enzymes in grasses, using rice as a model. Thought in silico analysis, all the putative and known enzymes in the lignin, flavonoid ad phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathways of rice have been identified. The proposed experiments are currently ongoing.
Current Status of Research Progress	Current Status of Research Progress 4: Progress in research has been delayed. Reason The proposed research is delayed because of the delay of the approval of experiments at Akita University, the delayed arrival of the plant growth chamber due to the global shortage of semi-conductor, and health problems of the applicant. After the approval of the experiments in March, 2023, experiments are currently carrying out as planned.
Strategy for Future Research Activity	The proposed research will be carried out as described in the proposal with slight modifications as described in the report last year. Cloning are currently ongoing. After finishing cloning, subcellular localization, yeast-two hybrid analysis, and split GAL4 RUBY (a series of betanidin biosynthetic genes) assay of the enzymes in the phenylpropanoid, lignin, and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways of rice will be carried out. Analysis of metabolite channelling will be conducted after the organization of metabolon is determined.
Causes of Carryover	In the next fiscal year, the funding will be mainly used for buying consumables and DNA sequencing service required for the proposed experiments.