01. Regulatory mechanisms of key factors determining cambial cell identity and pluripotency
The cambium is a meristematic stem cells that generate vascular tissues, producing xylem on the inside and phloem on the outside. Cambial cells exchange positional information through mechanical and molecular cues with surrouding xylem and phloem cells to maintain their identity. We focus on identifying novel factors that regulate cambium identity and activity, controlling its maintenance as a stem cell or its transition into differentiation cell types.
02. Securing cambium-derived cell lines and constructing plant vascular cell organoid culture systems
Intracellular metabolites serve as key extrinsic factors determining pluripotency of stem cells in animals. Similary, in plants, genetic networks, cell wall components, and cellular metabolites are expected to influence the maintenance of vascular cell identity and the acquisition of pluripotency in cambial cells. Our research aims to establish a platform capable of mass-producing biomass (fiber cells), which sequesters the majority of terrestrial carbon, as well as phloem, a key cell type for secondary metabolite synthesis.
03. Interplay between light signaling and the circadian clock in regulating rhythmic vascular tissue development
Plants regulate their growth and development in response to Earth’s 24-hour rotation, which results in predictable light fluctuations and the day-night cycle. To balance the varying rates of photosynthesis and respiration throughout this cycle, plants may need to form vascular cells that transport water and nutrients in accordance with these periodic environmental changes. The circadian clock synchronizes physiological processes with 24-hour cycles, influencing various biological functions. We aim to uncover the rhythmic patterns of vascular tissue development and elucidate the regulatory mechanisms governed by the circadian clock system in coordination with light signaling during secondary growth.
04. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of memory in perennial plants
The majority (70~80%) of angiosperms are perennial, exhibiting strong adaptability to environmental changes and diverse evolutionary pathways. Perennials survive winter through various strategies, such as transitioning the shoot into dormancy or allowing the shoot to wither while the root enters dormancy, after which a new shoot regenerates the following year. Using perennial storage-root plants, we aim to investigate how plants remember their age, where this memory is recorded, and through what molecular mechanism it is perceived.
