Regulation of organ growth by synthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids in Arabidopsis

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25440136
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Plant molecular biology/Plant physiology
• Research Institution: Nara Institute of Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Okushima Yoko 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 (00432592)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 器官成長 / シロイヌナズナ / 脂質 / 植物ホルモン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In plants, very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) are used for the synthesis of triacylglycerols, cuticular waxes and sphingolipids. Recently we have revealed that VLCFA synthesis in the shoot epidermis suppresses cell proliferation in internal tissues by down-regulating cytokinin biosynthesis in the vasculature, thereby restricting aerial organ growth. However, the mechanism how VLCFA synthesis controls cytokinin biosynthesis in a non-autonomous manner remains largely elusive. In this study, we found that brassinosteroid signals are involved in VLCFA-mediated plant growth regulation. In addition, by the genetic screening of factors working in VLCFA-mediated growth regulation, we identified 5 lines of defective in cafenstrole response (dcr) mutants. Candidates of the responsible genes for two dcr mutants have been identified by the whole genome sequencing.

Free Research Field

植物分子細胞生物学