An attempt to develop a novel system for transforming a wide variety of plant species without using the genetic recombination technique.

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25660002
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Science in genetics and breeding
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: YAMADA Kyoji 富山大学, 大学院理工学研究部(理学), 教授 (70200714)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): YAMAMOTO Masayuki 富山大学, 大学院理工学研究部, 講師 (10456402)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 遺伝子サイレンシング / 低分子RNA / 異種間遺伝子サイレンシング / 師部長距離輸送システム / 寄生植物 / 維管束連結 / 宿主植物の形質転換 / ネナシカズラ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to develop a novel transformation method by transfer of siRNAs between two different host plants via a stem-parasite Cuscuta japonica, we tried to establish a bridge system. A Cuscuta seedling was attached to the flower stalk of Arabidopsis producing siRNAs (donor plant). Subsequently, the Cuscuta stem parasitic on the first donor host was connected to the second host (acceptor plant), namely Arabidopsis expressing one of various target genes. We investigated on the transfer of siRNAs between such two Arabidopsis connected through a Cuscuta stem. Downregulation of expression of the target gene in the acceptor plant by trans-specific RNA interference was also investigated. The results suggested that the translocation of siRNAs from the donor to the acceptor plant occurred at undetectable level, and did not result in gene silencing in the acceptor plant, indicating that improvement of our system in the level of production and transference of gene silencing signals is needed.

Free Research Field

植物分子生物学