| 研究実績の概要 |
Through synthesis of machine-learning and phylogenetic analyses, the origin of genes encoding proteins that degrade artificial contaminants (xenobiotics) have been identified. Notably, some evolutionary processes for modern metabolism can date back to the accumulation of oxygen on Earth more than two billion years ago. Specific lineages of life (Deltaproteobacteria and Firmicutes) have played a major role in evolving, retaining, and dispersing such genes. As a side project, evolutionary analyses was performed on Camponotus japonicus (carpenter ant) to identify gut microbiota differentiating castes within or between colonies.
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| 今後の研究の推進方策 |
In the coming year, further analyses will be performed to target genes involved in other high-profile metabolisms and catabolic pathways that may be unique to a specific domain (bacteria vs archaea). Targets include other genes for degrading non-aromatic xenobiotics and high-priority contaminants (detected frequently and persistent) with unknown genes and catabolic pathways that differentiate/distinguish bacteria and archaea. Preliminary analyses have shown differences in oxygen-independent energy metabolism between bacteria and archaea, suggesting ancient differences that may manifest today in unknown shapes that this project aims to identify.
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