Evolution of apparatus of cytokinesis based on septin cytoskeleton

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26440195
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Evolutionary biology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Yamazaki Tomokazu 東京大学, 大学院新領域創成科学研究科, 特任助教 (40400189)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KAWANO Shigeyuki 東京大学, 大学院・新領域創成科学研究科, 教授 (70161338)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞質分裂 / 進化 / セプチン / 藻類

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Plants evolved by a primitive unicellular animals acquiring chloroplast. However, cytokinesis, which is one of mechanisms to proliferate cells, is greatly different between animals and plants. When animals and also fungi divide their cells, plasma membranes that envelop cells are invaded from the outside to the inside, and finally the cell membranes break down. It is known that this invagination involves a circular molecular apparatus called contractile ring. On the other hand, in plants, a molecular apparatus called cell plates are expanded from the inside to the outside of the cell. Here, genes involved in cytokinesis of algae, which are primitive plants, were compared with animals and plants. As a result, the evolutionary process of one of animal and fungal type cytokinetic apparatus called septin was revealed.

Free Research Field

植物科学、進化学