Elucidation of the molecular mechanism and the evolutionary significance in establishment of endosymbiosis

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26840119
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Evolutionary biology
• Research Institution: Shimane University
• Principal Investigator: Yuki Kodama 島根大学, 生物資源科学部, 准教授 (80582478)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: ミドリゾウリムシ / クロレラ / 細胞内共生 / トランスクリプトーム解析 / 二次共生 / 進化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Paramecium bursaira cells harbor about 700 of symbiotic Chlorella spp. in their cytoplasm. The purpose of this research project was elucidation of the molecular mechanism and the evolutionary significance in establishment of ensosymbiosis.
We have undertaken Illumina deep sequencing of mRNAs prepared from symbiotic Chlorella cells. Then, we compared gene expressions of before and after endosymbiosis with P. bursaria to elucidate the genetic control for establishment of secondary symbiosis. Furthermore, we clarified that symbiotic algae isolated from P. bursaria nearly 50 years ago and was thereafter cultivated outside the host have an infectivity to algae-removed P. bursaria cells. Moreover, we found that the isolated living symbiotic algae influence the digestive process in the host P. bursaria's digestive vacuoles during the early reinfection process.

Free Research Field

共生生物学