Elucidation of a mitochondrial gene regulation mechanism unique to plants

August 5, 2013

The RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science and the Okayama University Institute of Plant Science and Resources have discovered that AGS1, a bacterial-type poly(A) polymerase, and AHG2, a poly(A)-specific ribonuclease, constitute a regulatory system that controls mitochondrial mRNA poly(A) status in Arabidopsis, regulating the plant’s mitochondrial gene expression.

The research results clearly indicate an association between mitochondrial function and plant hormone responses important for stress tolerance. The genes and Arabidopsis mutants obtained through this research will further accelerate and expand our understanding of mitochondrial functions in plant. Additionally, the results should contribute to the development of novel technology for regulating gene expression of plant mitochondria.

Original article
Nature Communications doi: 10.1038/nocomms3247
T. Hirayama, T. Matsuura, S. Ushiyama, M. Narusaka, Y. Kurihara, M. Yasuda, M. Ohtani, M. Seki, T. Demura, H. Nakashita, Y. Narusaka, S. Hayashi,
“A poly(A)-specific ribonuclease directly regulates the poly(A) status of mitochondrial mRNA in Arabidopsis”.
Contact
Misato Ohtani
Research Scientist
Cellulose Production Research Team, Biomass Engineering Program Cooperation Division