SEARCH
Search DetailsSAKAI YuukiGraduate School of Science / Division of BiologyAssociate Professor
Research activity information
■ Paper- Apr. 2026, The new phytologist, 250(2) (2), 708 - 716, English, International magazine[Refereed]Scientific journal
- Many plants reproduce asexually by generating clonal progeny from vegetative tissues, a process known as vegetative reproduction. This reproduction mode contrasts with sexual reproduction, which enhances genetic diversity. The bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha L. adjusts its reproductive strategy in response to seasonal environmental cues, transitioning between vegetative and sexual reproduction. In this study, we identified a gene encoding the R2R3-MYB transcription factor SHOT GLASS (MpSTG) as a critical regulator of gemma cup development. MpSTG was predominantly expressed in the gemma cup, apical notch, and sexual reproductive organs (gametangiophores). MpSTG mutation resulted in the formation of abnormal shot-glass-shaped structures lacking gemmae, which replaced functional gemma cups. Additionally, MpSTG-disrupted plants failed to develop sexual reproductive organs, even under inductive conditions. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the MpSTG ortholog LATERAL ORGAN FUSION1 (AtLOF1) plays a pivotal role in lateral bud formation. We demonstrated that MpSTG can partially compensate for AtLOF1's function in lateral bud formation in A. thaliana. Our findings suggest that MpSTG is a key regulator of vegetative and sexual reproduction in M. polymorpha, and illustrate that evolutionarily conserved developmental mechanisms may function in both the gametophyte generation of bryophytes and the sporophyte generation of angiosperms.Lead, Sep. 2025, The new phytologist, 247(6) (6), 2678 - 2696, English, International magazine[Refereed]Scientific journal
- Summary In Arabidopsis thaliana, REDUCED LATERAL ROOT FORMATION (RLF), a cytochrome b5‐like heme‐binding domain (Cytb5‐HBD) protein, is necessary for proper lateral root (LR) formation. Whereas the other Cytb5‐HBD proteins in A. thaliana regulate different metabolic reactions, RLF is unique as it specifically regulates organ development. However, it remains unknown whether heme binding to RLF is necessary for its function and whether RLF orthologs in different plant species also regulate organ development. We demonstrate that RLF binds to heme in vitro and that two histidine residues, which are conserved among Cytb5‐HBD, are crucial for both heme binding and its biological function in A. thaliana. In addition, we show that MpRLF, a RLF ortholog in the bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha, also binds to heme in vitro and that MpRLF rescues the LR formation phenotype of the A. thaliana rlf mutant. Mprlfge, the loss‐of‐function mutation in MpRLF, resulted in delayed thallus growth and inhibited both gemma cup and reproductive organ formation. Our findings indicate that MpRLF is essential for proper vegetative and reproductive development in M. polymorpha. This suggests that RLF‐dependent redox reaction systems are conserved across diverse plant species and were independently co‐opted for organ development in bryophyte and seed plant evolution.Wiley, Jul. 2025, The new phytologist, 247(2) (2), 929 - 950, English, International magazine[Refereed]Scientific journal
- Plants adapted to life on land by developing diverse anatomical features across lineages. The molecular basis of these innovations often involves the emergence of new genes or establishing new connections between conserved elements, though evidence for evolutionary genetic circuit rewiring remains scarce. Here, we show that the thermospermine-dependent pathway regulating vascular cell proliferation in Arabidopsis thaliana operates as two distinct modules with different functions in the bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha. One module controls dichotomous branching at meristems, while the other one modulates gemmae and rhizoid production in the thallus. Heterologous assays and comparative expression analyses reveal that the molecular links between these modules, forming a unified circuit in vascular plants, emerged early in tracheophyte evolution. Our results illustrate how the thermospermine-dependent circuit elements followed two divergent evolutionary trajectories in bryophytes and tracheophytes, eventually influencing distinct developmental processes.May 2025, Developmental cell, 60(9) (9), 1348 - 1358, English, International magazine[Refereed]Scientific journal
- Abstract Optimizing leaf photosynthesis and root water and mineral uptake in crops during drought is crucial for enhancing agricultural productivity under climate change. Although plasma membrane H + -ATPase plays a key role in plant physiological processes, its overexpression alone does not consistently improve growth. While PROTON ATPASE TRANSLOCATION CONTROL 1 (PATROL1) regulates H + -ATPase translocation in response to various environmental stimuli in leaves, its function in roots remains largely unknown. Here, we show that H + -ATPase was coimmunoprecipitated with PATROL1 in roots of Arabidopsis thaliana. Under hyperosmotic stress, PATROL1 overexpression line had significantly greater root length and lateral root numbers than wild type (WT) and knockout lines. Micrografting between WT and PATROL1 knockout or overexpression lines showed that PATROL1 is indispensable in both shoots and roots, indicating that root uptake and leaf photosynthesis are simultaneous limiting factors for plant growth under soil water deficit. Compared with the WT, PATROL1 overexpression in whole plants resulted in a 41% increase in shoot dry weight and a 43% increase in shoot nitrogen content under drought conditions. These findings highlight the potential of H + -ATPase regulation in both roots and shoots as a new strategy to improve plant productivity, particularly under drought conditions.Oxford University Press (OUP), May 2025, PNAS nexus, 4(5) (5), pgaf151, English, International magazine[Refereed]Scientific journal
- Arabidopsis thalianais known to position nuclei on the bottom wall of leaf cells, distancing genetic material from external stresses, and, in response to intense blue light, it relocates them to the side walls to escape UV-induced DNA damage. However, how this protective system evolved in land plants remains unclear. Here, we show thatChara corallina, the charophyte alga, has no light-dependent nuclear relocation and thatMarchantia polymorpha, a modern relative of the earliest land plants, has a nuclear positioning system distinct from that of Arabidopsis: it positions nuclei on the upper walls of the epidermal cells of the young thalli in the dark and even in prolonged intense light. We also show that, in response to intense blue light,M. polymorphahas the ability to immediately move nuclei from the upper to the side walls in an actin filament-dependent manner similarly to Arabidopsis. However, the relocation is transient and the nuclei return to the upper walls depending on two cytoskeletal components (actin filaments and microtubules). Together, these findings suggest that light-dependent nuclear relocation was initially established in bryophytes and then diverged as land plants evolved.Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Sep. 2024, bioRxiv, English
- ABSTRACT Rho/Rac of plant (ROP) GTPases are plant-specific proteins that function as molecular switches, activated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and inactivated by GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). The bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha contains single copies of ROP (MpROP), GEFs [ROPGEF and SPIKE (SPK)] and GAPs [ROPGAP and ROP ENHANCER (REN)]. MpROP regulates the development of various tissues and organs, such as rhizoids, gemmae and air chambers. The ROPGEF KARAPPO (MpKAR) is essential for gemma initiation, but the functions of other ROP regulatory factors are less understood. This study focused on two GAPs: MpROPGAP and MpREN. Mpren single mutants showed defects in thallus growth, rhizoid tip growth, gemma development, and air-chamber formation, whereas Mpropgap mutants showed no visible abnormalities. However, Mpropgap Mpren double mutants had more severe phenotypes than the Mpren single mutants, suggesting backup roles of MpROPGAP in processes involving MpREN. Overexpression of MpROPGAP and MpREN resulted in similar gametophyte defects, highlighting the importance of MpROP activation/inactivation cycling (or balancing). Thus, MpREN predominantly, and MpROPGAP as a backup, regulate gametophyte development, likely by controlling MpROP activation in M. polymorpha.Lead, The Company of Biologists, Sep. 2024, Development, 151(20) (20)[Refereed]Scientific journal
- Tissue clearing methods are increasingly essential for the microscopic observation of internal tissues of thick biological organs. We previously developed TOMEI, a clearing method for plant tissues; however, it could not entirely remove chlorophylls nor reduce the fluorescent signal of fluorescent proteins. Here, we developed an improved TOMEI method (iTOMEI) to overcome these limitations. First, a caprylyl sulfobetaine was determined to efficiently remove chlorophylls from Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings without GFP quenching. Next, a weak alkaline solution restored GFP fluorescence, which was mainly lost during fixation, and an iohexol solution with a high refractive index increased sample transparency. These procedures were integrated to form iTOMEI. iTOMEI enables the detection of much brighter fluorescence than previous methods in tissues of A. thaliana, Oryza sativa, and Marchantia polymorpha. Moreover, a mouse brain was also efficiently cleared by the iTOMEI-Brain method within 48 h, and strong fluorescent signals were detected in the cleared brain.Jan. 2022, Communications biology, 5(1) (1), 12 - 12, English, International magazine[Refereed]Scientific journal
- Japanese Society for Plant Cell and Molecular Biology, 2022, Plant Biotechnology[Refereed]Scientific journal
- 2019, RIKEN Accel. Prog. Rep, 53, 203 - 203, EnglishIsolation of morphological mutants in a bryophyte model Marchantia polymorpha using heavy-ion mutagenesis[Refereed]
- Sep. 2017, Plant Signaling & Behavior, 12(10) (10), e1370163 - e1370163[Refereed]Scientific journal
- Bio-Protocol, LLC, 2015, BIO-PROTOCOL, 5(21) (21)[Refereed]Scientific journal
- Bio-Protocol, LLC, 2015, BIO-PROTOCOL, 5(21) (21)[Refereed][Invited]Scientific journal
- Jan. 2015, Journal of integrative plant biology, 57(1) (1), 93 - 105, English, International magazine[Refereed]Scientific journal
- Reorganized actin filaments anchor chloroplasts along the anticlinal walls of Vallisneria epidermal cells under high-intensity blue light.In epidermal cells of the aquatic angiosperm Vallisneria gigantea Graebner, high-intensity blue light (BL) induces the avoidance response of chloroplasts. We examined simultaneous BL-induced changes in the configuration of actin filaments in the cytoplasmic layers that face the outer periclinal wall (P side) and the anticlinal wall (A side). The results clearly showed that dynamic reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton occurs on both sides. Upon BL irradiation, thick, long bundles of actin filaments appeared, concomitant with the directed migration of chloroplasts from the P side to the A side. After 15-20 min of BL irradiation, fine actin bundles on only the A side appeared to associate with chloroplasts that had migrated from the P side. To examine the role of the fine actin bundles, we evaluated the anchorage of chloroplasts by centrifuging living cells. Upon BL irradiation, the resistance of chloroplasts on both the P and A sides to the centrifugal force decreased remarkably. After 20 min of BL irradiation, the resistance of chloroplasts on the A side increased again, but chloroplasts on the P side could still be displaced. The BL-induced recovery of resistance of chloroplasts on the A side was sensitive to photosynthesis inhibitors but insensitive to an inhibitor of flavoproteins. The photosynthesis inhibitors also prevented the fine actin bundles from appearing on the A side under BL irradiation. These results strongly suggest that the BL-induced avoidance response of chloroplasts includes photosynthesis-dependent and actin-dependent anchorage of chloroplasts on the A side of epidermal cells.Aug. 2005, Planta, 221(6) (6), 823 - 30, English, International magazine[Refereed]Scientific journal
- 2025, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 66thAn R2R3-MYB transcription factor, SHOT GLASS promotes gemma cup development and FR-induced gametangiophore formation in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha
- 2024, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 65thThe bHLH transcriptional factor MpHYPNOS regulates gemma dormancy in Marchantia polymorpha
- 2024, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 65thCritical roles of rhizoids in phosphate uptake in the non-vascular plant Marchantia polymorpha
- 2024, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 65thA mutation of CHLH confers resistance to PPO inhibitors in Marchantia polymorpha
- 2024, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 65thFunctional characterization of the vacuolar membrane phosphate transporter VPT in a non-vascular plant Marchantia polymorpha
- 2024, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 65thDrastic changes in gene-expression profile during the spore germination of Marchantia polymorpha
- 2024, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 65thMpRLF, a cytochrome b5 -like heme binding domain protein, is necessary for proper vegetative and reproductive development in Marchantia polymorpha
- 2023, アグリバイオ, 7(3) (3)Technical platform for metabolic engineering in a bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha
- 2023, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 64thMechanisms of MpHYPNOS-mediated gemma dormancy in Marchantia polymorpha
- 2023, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 64thRole of ROP signaling in the growth and organogenesis of Marchantia polymorpha
- 2023, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 64thThe role of MYBCC-SPX module in phosphate response of nonvascular plant Marchantia polymorpha
- 2023, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録(CD-ROM), 87thゼニゴケの器官形成を制御するROPシグナリング
- 2023, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録(CD-ROM), 87th非維管束植物ゼニゴケにおける液胞膜リン酸輸送体VPTの機能解析
- 2023, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録(CD-ROM), 87thMpHYPNOSはABA依存的および非依存的に無性芽の休眠を制御する
- 2023, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録(CD-ROM), 87thゼニゴケCHLH遺伝子の変異はPPO阻害除草剤耐性を付与する
- 2022, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 63rdMpHYPNOS-mediated regulatory mechanism of gemma dormancy in Marchantia polymorpha
- 2022, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 63rdAsymmetric division in the spore of Marchantia polymorpha
- 2022, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 63rdDeep imaging of plant tissues using iTOMEI
- 2022, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 63rdThe role of MYCCB-SPX module in phosphate starvation of nonvascular plant Marchantia polymorpha
- 2022, Plant Morphology, 34(1) (1)植物組織透明化手法TOMEIの改良とその効果
- 2022, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録(CD-ROM), 86thコケ植物ゼニゴケの脅威の繁殖力を支える分子基盤
- 2022, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録(CD-ROM), 86thPPO阻害除草剤耐性ゼニゴケの単離と解析
- 2022, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録(CD-ROM), 86thコケ植物ゼニゴケのリン欠乏応答を制御するMYBCC型転写因子の機能解析
- 2022, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録(CD-ROM), 86thゼニゴケ無性芽の休眠を促進するMpHYPNOSの機能
- 2021, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 62ndFunctional characterization of LAX PANICLE2 homologous in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha
- 2021, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 62ndFunctional analysis of a R2R3-MYB transcription factor SHOTGLASS in Marchantia polymorpha
- 2021, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録(CD-ROM), 85thゼニゴケ無性芽におけるMpHYPNOSを介した休眠制御
- 2021, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録(CD-ROM), 85thゼニゴケ器官形成におけるR2R3-MYB転写因子SHOTGLASSの機能
- 2021, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録(CD-ROM), 85th基部陸上植物ゼニゴケのリン欠乏応答におけるMpMYBCC-MpSPXモジュールの機能
- 2021, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録(CD-ROM), 85thゼニゴケ葉状体の形態形成におけるMpRENの機能解析
- 2021, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録(CD-ROM), 85th基部陸上植物ゼニゴケにおけるリンの吸収・分配・貯蔵のメカニズム
- 2021, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録(CD-ROM), 85th組織透明化手法iTOMEIを用いた深部イメージング
- Lead, 2020, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 61stMicrotubule dynamics on the first asymmetric division in the spore of Marchantia polymorphaSummary national conference
- 2020, 日本植物生理学会年会(Web), 61stDevelopment of iTOMEI
- 2020, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録(CD-ROM), 84thゼニゴケ側生器官形成を制御するMYB転写因子GCAM2の機能解析
- 2018, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録, 82ndゼニゴケの胞子発芽に伴う微小管の動態
- 2015, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録, 79thゼニゴケ初期胚発生を制御する因子の探索
- 2014, 日本植物生理学会年会要旨集, 55thゼニゴケMpLFYノックアウト株の表現型解析
- 2014, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録, 78thゼニゴゲの接合子におけるMpLFYの機能解析
- 2013, 日本植物生理学会年会要旨集, 54th苔類ゼニゴケにおけるmiR156およびSBP型転写因子の解析
- 2013, 日本植物生理学会年会要旨集, 54th原核生物型PEBPファミリータンパク質CORのシロイヌナズナとゼニゴケにおける機能解析
- 2012, 日本植物生理学会年会要旨集, 53rd花芽形成のマスター制御因子LEAFYの祖先的機能の探索
- 2012, 日本植物生理学会年会要旨集, 53rd植物の成長相転換における制御因子の祖先的機能の探索
- 2012, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録, 76th苔類ゼニゴケにおけるSBP型転写因子の解析
- 2012, 日本分子生物学会年会プログラム・要旨集(Web), 35th転写因子の機能から迫る陸上植物の有性生殖メカニズムの進化-安定して次世代を残すために-
- 2011, 日本植物生理学会年会要旨集, 52nd苔類ゼニゴケにおけるLEAFY相同遺伝子MpLFYの機能解析
- 2011, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録, 75th苔類ゼニゴケにおけるLEAFY相同遺伝子MpLFYの機能解析
- 2011, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録, 75th苔類ゼニゴケにおけるLEAFY相同遺伝子MpLFYの直接制御標的の探索
- 2010, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録, 74th陸上植物に固有の転写因子LFY
- 2010, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録, 74th苔類ゼニゴケにおけるPEBP family遺伝子の機能解析
- 2010, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録, 74th苔類ゼニゴケにおけるLEAFY相同遺伝子MpLFYの機能解析
- 2009, 日本植物学会大会研究発表記録, 73rdオオセキショウモにおける青色光受容体フォトトロピンの同定と解析
- 2008, 日本植物生理学会年会要旨集, 49thオオセキショウモ表皮細胞における青色光による葉緑体逃避運動誘導へのCa2+の関与について
- 第67回日本植物生理学会年会, Mar. 2026, Japanese, Domestic conferenceEvolutionarily conserved RLF, a cytochrome b5-like heme-binding protein, regulates organ development across land plantsPoster presentation
- 第67回日本植物生理学会年会, Mar. 2026, Domestic conferenceA TONNEAU1-Reqruiting Motif (TRM) protein is required for air chamber development in Marchantia polymorpha
- 第67回日本植物生理学会年会, Mar. 2026, Japanese, Domestic conferenceゼニゴケにおけるROP GDP解離阻害因子の機能解析Oral presentation
- 第67回日本植物生理学会年会, Mar. 2026, Japanese, Domestic conferenceゼニゴケにおけるTRXfと葉緑体局在TRX 関連遺伝子の二重機能欠損変異体の光合成活性測定Poster presentation
- EMBO Workshop: Plant evolution: from origins to diversification on land, Nov. 2025, English, International conferencePhosphate Uptake and Internal Transport in Early Land Plants: Functional Role of Rhizoids in Marchantia polymorphaPoster presentation
- EMBO Workshop: Plant evolution: from origins to diversification on land, Nov. 2025, English, International conferenceAn R2R3-MYB transcription factor SHOT GLASS promotes gemma cup and gametangiophore development in the liverwort Marchantia polymorphaPoster presentation
- 日本植物学会第89回大会, Sep. 2025, Japanese, Domestic conference非維管束植物ゼニゴケのリン吸収機構におけるリン輸送体PHT1 ファミリーの機能解析Poster presentation
- 日本植物学会第89回大会, Sep. 2025, Japanese, Domestic conference進化的に保存されたシトクロムb5 様ヘム結合タンパク質RLF はゼニゴケの器官発生を制御するOral presentation
- 日本植物学会第89回大会, Sep. 2025, Japanese, Domestic conferenceゼニゴケにおける気室形成制御遺伝子 ZUNBERABO はTON1-Recruiting Motifタンパク質をコードするOral presentation
- 日本植物学会第89回大会, Sep. 2025, Japanese, Domestic conferenceR2R3-MYB転写因子SHOT GLASS によるゼニゴケ器官発生制御メカニズムOral presentation
- 日本植物学会第89回大会, Sep. 2025, Japanese, Domestic conferenceゼニゴケの形態形成におけるROP-GDP解離阻害因子の機能解析Oral presentation
- 日本植物学会第89回大会, Sep. 2025, Japanese, Domestic conferenceRNA m6A修飾を介したDNA損傷応答と 分裂組織維持の制御機構Oral presentation
- 日本植物学会第89回大会, Sep. 2025, Japanese, Domestic conference細胞核の光定位運動からみた植物の陸上化:多様な藻類を用いた進化的アプローチOral presentation
- 日本植物学会第89回大会, Sep. 2025, Japanese, Domestic conferenceMpHYPNOS によるゼニゴケ無性芽の休眠 促進メカニズムの解析Oral presentation
- 第42回日本植物バイオテクノロジー学会, Sep. 2025, Japanese, Domestic conferenceゼニゴケ代謝工学に向けた核ゲノム改変重層化の技術基盤Oral presentation
- 第66回日本植物生理学会年会, Japanese苔類ゼニゴケにおける気室形成変異体zunberaboの原因遺伝子同定Poster presentation
- 第66回日本植物生理学会年会ゼニゴケにおけるf 型およびm 型チオレドキシン機能欠損変異体の表現型解析Poster presentation
- 第66回日本植物生理学会年会ゼニゴケ葉状体の同化糸に関する形態学的・生理学的研究Poster presentation
- 第66回日本植物生理学会年会RNA m6A 修飾を介したDNA損傷応答と分裂組織維持の制御機構Oral presentation
- 第66回日本植物生理学会年会陸上植物における細胞核光定位運動の獲得と多様化Oral presentation
- 第66回日本植物生理学会年会ゼニゴケのR2R3-MYB 転写因子SHOT GLASS は栄養繁殖器官および有性生殖器官の形成を促進するOral presentation
- 第66回日本植物生理学会年会進化的に保存されたシトクロムb5 様ヘム結合タンパク質であるRLF はゼニゴケにおける適切な器官発生に 必要である
- 日本植物学会第88回大会ゼニゴケの胞子発芽 過程におけるROP の機能Oral presentation
- 日本植物学会第88回大会ゼニゴケのシトクロムb5 様ヘム結合タンパク質MpRLF は栄養成長と生殖成長における適切な発生に必要である
- 日本植物学会第88回大会非維管束植物ゼニゴケのリン吸収における仮根の役割についてOral presentation
- 日本植物学会第88回大会ゼニゴケ葉状体の形態形成におけるROP-GDP 解離阻害因子の機能解析Poster presentation
- 日本植物学会第88回大会苔類ゼニゴケにおける気室および同化糸の形成異常株の解析Poster presentation
■ Research Themes
- 日本学術振興会, 科学研究費助成事業, 基盤研究(C), 神戸大学, Apr. 2025 - Mar. 2028基部陸上植物ゼニゴケの胞子をモデルとした細胞自律的な不等分裂メカニズムの研究
- 日本学術振興会, 科学研究費助成事業, 特別研究員奨励費, 神戸大学, 08 Mar. 2023 - 31 Mar. 2024基部陸上植物ゼニゴケの胞子をモデルとした単細胞における不等分裂メカニズムの研究本研究は、陸上植物進化の基部に位置する苔類ゼニゴケをモデルに、植物の単細胞における細胞自律的な不等分裂の分子メカニズムを解明することを最終目的とする。申請者は、ゼニゴケの個体発生開始点である胞子で不等分裂に先立って核が細胞中央から辺縁部へと細胞骨格依存的に移動することを見出した。胞子における遺伝子発現プロファイルからゼニゴケに唯一の低分子量GTPaseであるMpROPの関与が示唆されたことから「活性化されたMpROPが胞子の細胞膜にドメインを形成し、細胞骨格と相互作用することによって細胞極性を形成し、核を移動させる」という仮説を立てた。本仮説を検証するため、エストロゲン誘導系を用いた一過的なMpROPの発現抑制及び過剰発現の影響を調べることにした。 昨年度に作出したエストロゲン誘導性プロモーター(proE2F::XVE)の制御下でMpROP遺伝子をターゲットにした人工マイクロRNA(amiRNA)を発現する形質転換体を用いて、今年度新たに作出した微小管/アクチン/核の可視化株との交配により胞子を取得した。次に、一過的なMpROPの過剰発現の影響を調べるため、エストロゲン誘導性プロモーターの制御下でMpROP、恒常活性型MpROP G15Vおよびドミナントネガティブ型MpROP T20Nを過剰発現する形質転換体と微小管/アクチン/核の可視化株との交配により胞子を取得した。これらの胞子をエストラジオール含有培地で培養したところ、ドミナントネガティブ型MpROP T20N過剰発現株を含む一部の胞子で発芽が異常となり、胞子発芽においてMpROPが機能することが明らかとなった。 本年度は、国内の学会および研究会で発表することで議論を深めた。また、ゼニゴケにおいて2種類のマーカータンパク質をバイシストロニックに発現させる系を確立し、日本語の記事として発表した。
- 日本学術振興会, 科学研究費助成事業, 特別研究員奨励費, 神戸大学, 28 Apr. 2021 - 31 Mar. 2024基部陸上植物ゼニゴケの胞子をモデルとした単細胞における不等分裂メカニズムの研究本研究は、陸上植物進化の基部に位置する苔類ゼニゴケをモデルに、単細胞での細胞自律的な不等分裂の分子機構を解明することを最終目的とする。申請者は、ゼニゴケの個体発生開始点である胞子で不等分裂に先立って核が細胞中央から辺縁部へと細胞骨格依存的に移動することを見出していた。さらに、胞子における予備的なRNAseq解析からゼニゴケに唯一の低分子量GTPaseであるMpROPの関与が示唆されたことから、胞子の不等分裂におけるMpROPの分子機能を明らかにすることにした。本年度の実績は以下である。 【胞子の不等分裂における核の移動】胞子の不等分裂に先立って核が移動する現象について経時的な定量解析を行い、論文として発表した。 【MpROP遺伝子の発現抑制】 MpROP遺伝子の機能欠損は致死となり解析できない。この問題を解決するため一過的な発現抑制を試みた。エストロゲン誘導性プロモーター(proE2F::XVE)の制御下で人工マイクロRNA(amiRNA)を発現させる系を確立した。人工遺伝子合成により作出したゼニゴケマイクロRNA遺伝子(MpmiR160)の骨格を持つベクターに、標的配列に即して設計した短い合成オリゴを挿入する方法を考案し、さまざまな標的配列に対して容易にamiRNAの発現プラスミドを作出できるように工夫した。 【MpROP遺伝子の過剰発現】 エストロゲン誘導性プロモーターの制御下で野生型MpROPおよび恒常活性型MpROP-G15Vを一過的に過剰発現する形質転換体を作出した。これらの形質転換体はエストロゲンを含む選択培地上でMpROPGAP機能欠損株と同様の表現型を示し、機能的なMpROPタンパク質を誘導的に発現できていることを確認した。
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research, Kyoto University, 01 Apr. 2012 - 31 Mar. 2015Toward compilation of an atlas of Marchantia polymorpha, a model basal land plantsThrough RNA seq analysis of isolated antheridia, a comprehensive list of genes specifically expressed during antheridial development was obtained, which enables us to draw a framework for gene expression program of the process. The list contains genes expressed in spermatogenous tissue at specific stage of development, which will serve as useful markers. A gene likely to be involved in early stages of sexual organ development was also identified through analysis of knock-out plants of selected transcription factor genes. These will be useful resources for us to contribute to our understanding sexual organ development. Other outputs from this project of a notable value include establishment of lines which mark apical notch region of thallus and catalogues of genes expressed in archegonia before and after fertilization. In association to this project, I am serving as one of editors for the specially focused issue on Marchantia polymorpha as a model plant in Plant & Cell Physiology.
