RESEARCH

Research Clusters

Plant Cell and Developmental Biology

Multicellular organisms require precise coordination of cell division and differentiation to ensure organized development. Plants have evolved a unique structure called the meristem, which consists of a pool of stem cells that divide and renew themselves continuously. The shoot apical meristem, which is formed during embryogenesis, plays a central role in generating postembryonic shoot organs such as leaves, stems and flowers. Focusing on key regulatory genes, we study how the shoot apical meristem is formed and maintained during the plant life cycle, and how the activities of these regulatory genes affect tissue morphology and behaviors.

On the other hand, plants sometimes produce gall-like structures induced by a number of other organisms, such as the root nodules induced by Rhizobium, and the galls induced by plant parasitic nematodes or insects. Parasites and symbiotes induce different types of plant responses, and sometimes they hijack the plant’s endogenous signaling pathways for their own purposes. For example, plant parasitic nematodes utilize root formation-related signaling pathways to induce cell division and form gall from pre-vascular cells to survive in plant roots. Furthermore, cell wall compositions are often modified in response to such developmental reprogramming during these biotic interactions.

In this Research Unit, Plant Cell and Developmental Biology, we characterize the molecular and physical mechanisms that contribute to plant development and plant–parasitic nematodes interactions using genetic, biochemical, physiological approaches. From a technical point of view, image analyses can be quite useful to mine valuable information from high-dimensional microscopic images. As such, we are also currently developing original image analysis tools tailored for experimental plant cell and developmental biologists.

Plant Cell and Developmental Biology

Cluster members

  • Japan
    Coordinator
    Shinichiro SAWA Website

    Professor
    Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University

    Japan
  • Spain
    Carolina ESCOBAR Website

    Professor
    Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences and Biochemistry, University of Castilla La Mancha

    Spain
  • France
    Bruno FAVERY Website

    INRAE Senior Scientist
    CNRS Institut Sophia Agrobiotech
    ＊IROAST Visiting Professor

    France
  • Japan
    Mitsuhiro AIDA Website

    Professor
    Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology (FAST), Kumamoto University

    Japan
  • Japan
    Takumi HIGAKI Website

    Professor
    Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology (FAST), Kumamoto University

    Japan
  • Japan
    Yuki YOSHIDA

    Project Assistant Professor
    Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University

    Japan
  • Japan
    Hidehiko SUNOHARA

    Environmental Control Center Co.,Ltd.
    ＊Visiting Assistant Professor, Kumamoto University

    Japan
  • Japan
    Reira SUZUKI

    Visiting Assistant Porfessor, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University

    Japan

Achievement

Publications
2024
2023
2022
Publications
Grants

Principal Investigator

  1. Kakenhi, Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
  2. JSPS, Fostering Joint International Research (B)

Activities

May 2023:
Visit of Bruno Favery's laboratory in France


joint research                                                                 joint research meeting

December 13, 2022:
International meeting in Kumamoto on “plant development and biotic interaction” (The 14th IROAST International symposium)

 

 

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