Comprehensive analysis to identify the key molecules for sexual maturation, mating-type expression and the initiation of sexual reproduction in ciliate.

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26440126
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Developmental biology
• Research Institution: Nara Women's University
• Principal Investigator: Sugiura Mayumi 奈良女子大学, 自然科学系, 准教授 (60397841)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): Harumoto Terue 奈良女子大学, 自然科学系, 教授 (80198936)
• Research Collaborator: Yuasa Hajime J 高知大学, 理工学部, 准教授 (40322797)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-02-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 繊毛虫 / 接合 / 接合型 / 性成熟 / 交配フェロモン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The main aim of the present study was to conduct a comprehensive analysis to identify the key molecules involved in the mechanisms of sexual maturation, mating-type expression and the initiation of sexual reproduction (conjugation) in ciliate. We have used the putative ancestral species of ciliate, Blepharisma stoltei, in which conjugation is induced between complementary mating type cells, I and II, under food-deprived conditions. First, we produced progeny strains by crossing type I and II cells, and observed precisely their mating-type expression patterns during sexual maturation. Then, we performed de novo RNA-seq analysis to compare gene expression among sexually immature cells and mature-type I and II cells. Finally, from the constructed transcriptome data, we have identified the enzyme involved in the biosynthetic pathway of mating pheromone, gamone 2, which is a tryptophan-derivative compound secreted by type II cells.

Free Research Field

分子細胞生物学、原生生物学