Higher-Order Functions of Stomatal Guard Cells in Plant Environmental Adaptation

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26221103
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Plant molecular biology/Plant physiology
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Iba Koh 九州大学, 理学研究院, 教授 (10192501)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 柳澤 修一 東京大学, 生物生産工学研究センター, 教授 (20222359)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-05-30 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 気孔 / 葉緑体 / CO2 / 環境応答 / 高等植物

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Stomatal higher-order information processing plays a pivotal role in the adaptation and survival of plants in diverse environments, but many aspects of the underlying molecular mechanism remain unknown. In this study, the stoma was treated as the main organ of the higher-order information processing in plants, and we tried to develop a paradigm for the general characteristics of information processing in plants by demonstrating the mechanisms of the compilation and integration of higher-order information in stomata. We gained insight into the stomatal function by isolating and examining an Arabidopsis mutant, gles1, which had achlorophyllous stomatal guard cells and impaired stomatal responses to CO2 and light. The mutant analysis revealed that the guard cell chloroplasts play an essential role in the development for higher-order functions of stomatal guard cells in plant environmental adaptations.

Free Research Field

植物生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

植物表皮系に分布する気孔装置 (stomatal complex) は、CO2、オゾンといった大気成分、光、水ストレス、生物的エリシター刺激などの多様な環境情報を感知し、全身の代謝バランスとあわせた高次の情報処理によって、植物個体の成長や生存のために最適な体内環境を作り出している。本研究は、植物における生体情報、環境情報の集積中枢となっている気孔装置における高次情報処理の仕組みを精査することによって、植物の生命力の強さ、すなわち頑健性の源となっている植物に特異的な細胞動態の解明をめざしている。