Analysis of molecular mechanisms of intercellular space formation in land plants

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16163
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 44030:Plant molecular biology and physiology-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Mizutani Miya 名古屋大学, 理学研究科, 研究員 (90836280)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 形態形成 / ガス交換 / 細胞壁 / ゼニゴケ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Intercellular spaces (ICSs) are the gap inside plant tissues such as roots and leaves. ICSs, which are often critical for gas exchange, also play an important role for water stress response. Marchantia polymorpha develops multilayered tissue units with a large ICS, air chambers, on the dorsal surface of the thallus.In this study, I obtained several ICSs deficient-mutants of M. polymorpha and identified the responsive genes for some of those mutants. I further explore the interacting factors for those proteins of interest. Moreover, I established the screening system for small compounds that affect ICSs development, by which several candidate compounds were obtained. This study sheds new light on the molecular mechanism underlying the ICSs development which is critical for plant terrestrialization.

Free Research Field

植物分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

植物のガス交換組織を構成する細胞間隙は、陸上環境への適応に不可欠であるとともに、その形態がガス交換効率に影響するため、植物の成長と密接にかかわっている。
このような間隙の形成を制御する因子はこれまで陸上植物を通してほとんど明らかにされてこなかった。本研究成果によって、間隙形成を制御する因子やその経路の一端が明らかになりつつある。この成果を応用することによって植物のガス交換効率を上げるなど、農業への応用なども期待できる。