Studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying the transition from cell division to cell differentiation

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26291061
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Plant molecular biology/Plant physiology
• Research Institution: Nara Institute of Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: UMEDA Masaaki 奈良先端科学技術大学院大学, バイオサイエンス研究科, 教授 (80221810)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 高橋 直紀 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 (40553623)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SEKI Motoaki 理化学研究所, 環境資源科学研究センター, チームリーダー (80281624) ; FUKAO Yoichiro 立命館大学, 生命科学部, 准教授 (80432590)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 発生・分化 / 植物ホルモン / 細胞分裂 / DNA倍加 / クロマチン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we revealed the mechanisms underlying the transition from cell division to cell differentiation by conducting functional analyses of KRPs, which are involved in degradation of B-type response regulators, and by analyzing the epigenetic regulation in triggering DNA polyploidization in roots. We found that some KRPs are expressed in the transition zone in roots and play an important role in an early onset of cell differentiation in response to DNA damage. Our results also indicated the possibility that auxin controls chromatin structure, thereby being associated with the transition from cell division to cell differentiation.

Free Research Field

植物分子生物学