Elucidation of RNA metabolism regulation important for plant cell totipotency

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24770052
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Plant molecular biology/Plant physiology
• Research Institution: Nara Institute of Science and Technology (2014); Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (2012-2013)
• Principal Investigator: OHTANI Misato 奈良先端科学技術大学院大学, バイオサイエンス研究科, 助教 (60435633)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 分化全能性 / RNA代謝 / プレｍRNAスプライシング / RNA品質管理 / snRNA / シュート再生 / 脱分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The cell potentiality to give rise to a whole body is called “totipotency”, and plant somatic cells are considered to retain this ability. In this project, molecular genetics works were performed with Arabidopsis thaliana mutants, to reveal molecular mechanisms underlying plant cell totipotency, especially from the viewpoint of RNA metabolism regulation. The obtained results suggested that specific RNA metabolism regulatory pathways, such as pre-mRNA splicing regulation and/or RNA quality control mechanism, have critical roles in plant cell totipotency.

Free Research Field

植物分子遺伝学