Integration of biological systems through symbiosis: insights from aphid=Buchnera endosymbiosis

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25291083
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Evolutionary biology
• Research Institution: National Institute for Basic Biology
• Principal Investigator: SHIGENOBU Shuji 基礎生物学研究所, 生物機能解析センター, 特任准教授 (30399555)
• Research Collaborator: Stern David L. HHMI Janelia Research Campus ; Aishwarya Korgaonkar HHMI Janelia Research Campus ; Betzig Eric HHMI Janelia Research Campus ; Li Wei-Ping HHMI Janelia Research Campus ; Rivlin Pat HHMI Janelia Research Campus ; Mergaert Peter CNRS ; UCHIUMI Toshiki 鹿児島大学
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 共生 / アブラムシ / 進化 / 抗菌ペプチド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A key question in symbiosis studies is how multiple organisms are integrated in a well-organized system through symbiosis. I used aphid-Buchnera symbiosis as a model to address this issue at molecular level. I focus on BCR peptides that are aphid lineage-specific secretion peptides I have discovered in the pea aphid genome. I found that these BCRs are expressed strongly and exclusively in the symbiotic organ called bacteriocytes. Our imaging data indicated that these peptides are secreted and then targeted to the endosymbionts. I also found BCRs have antimicrobial effects on E. coli and some other bacteria. Recently, antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-like peptides have been reported to function in the context of mutualism in other symbiotic systems such as Medicago-Rizobium symbiosis. AMP-like molecule such as BCRs should be a key to understand the principle in the symbiosis evolution.

Free Research Field

ゲノム進化学