Development of a novel forward genetic screening system by using small RNA in plants

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26712006
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Plant protection science
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan University
• Principal Investigator: Takeda Atsushi 立命館大学, 生命科学部, 准教授 (60560779)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 植物ー病原体相互作用 / RNAiスクリーニング / バイオテクノロジー / 遺伝学 / 植物ウイルス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In plants, it is difficult to identify genes essential for development and genes having redundant functions and so on through current forward genetic screenings, for example EMS and T-DNA mutagenesis. In this study, to overcome these limitations, I established a novel forward genetic screening system in plants, in which I utilized an endogenous small RNA pathway called TAS1 tasiRNA. Then, by using the established system, I tried to identify novel host factors of a plant virus, Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Repression of TOM1 and TOM3 genes by synthetic artificial tasiRNAs in Arabidopsis reproduced the Tobacco mosaic virus-resistant phenotype of tom1/tom3 double mutant, strongly suggesting that we can identify host factors of plant viruses by using the established forward genetic screening system. I then set up the screening to identify host factors, which localize on vacuole membrane or are involved in phospholipid metabolism, required for CMV replication.

Free Research Field

植物病理学