2022 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Identification of cell fate specification mechanisms during early embryogenesis in Arabidopsis
| Project/Area Number |
21F21379
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Institution | Tohoku University |
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| Host Researcher |
植田 美那子 東北大学, 生命科学研究科, 教授 (20598726)
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| Foreign Research Fellow |
KAO PING 東北大学, 生命科学研究科, 外国人特別研究員
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| Project Period (FY) |
2021-11-18 – 2024-03-31
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| Keywords | Arabidopsis thaliana / zygotic embryogenesis / transcriptome / cellular dynamics |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The goal of this study is to identify the key regulatory genes involved in embryogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis). Zygotic embryogenesis is a fundamental developmental process in which a single-celled zygote goes through a series of cell divisions, patterning and cell type specifications to form a complex embryo during eukaryotic sexual reproduction. In the flowering plant Arabidopsis, zygotes divide stereotypically, allowing observation of embryo patterning events and tracing cell lineages. While decades of genetic analyses have identified a number of genes that play vital roles in embryogenesis, the genome-wide analyses were not feasible until recently due to technical difficulties. We utilized published embryonic transcriptome datasets to search for key regulatory genes of embryogenesis as well as to resolve the underlying regulatory networks. With bioinformatics approaches, we selected a number of candidate genes for further validations and analyses. Identifying the key factors involved in embryonic cell divisions and specifications will greatly improve our knowledge of flowering plant embryogenesis mechanisms, which is important for understanding the fundamental biological process enabling multicellular eukaryotic lives.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
We collected published embryonic transcriptome datasets (Zhao et. al. 2019, Hofmann et. al. 2019, Kao et. al. 2021) and refined analytic pipeline. Gene expression variations among different cell types or developmental stages were highlighted for subsequent analyses. A list of candidate genes that might contribute to the embryonic developmental events has been selected for further examinations. Promoter fusions of several candidate genes have been cloned and their expression patterns have been examined. The molecular and genetic examinations of the selected genes are now in progress.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Cloning of translational reporter and translational fusion with activators or repressors is ongoing. In addition, we will incorporate more datasets and refine analytic pipelines in attempt to better identify key regulatory genes.
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