Nonomura Group • Plant Cytogenetics Laboratory
Molecular cytogenetics in regulatory mechanisms of plant reproductive development
Faculty
▶ Lab HP
Research Summary
Meiosis is a special cell division that halves the chromosome number for fertilization and stably transmits genetic information to offspring. It also creates genetic diversity through meiotic recombination, which is utilized for the crossbreeding of animals and plants. We aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that control plant reproductive development including meiosis.
Furthermore, we support plant researches through preservation, provision, and contract cultivation of Gramineae genetic resources, including wild rice relatives and experimental cultivated rice strains, in use of the plant cultivation facilities in NIG.
(A) AGO4a accumulated in male meiocyte nuclei (arrowheads) and associated most to meiosis-specific 24nt phasiRNAs, and second most to 24nt transposable element (TE)-derived siRNAs. (B) A schematic for
isolation of meiocytes. (C) CHH (H=A, T, C) methylation was globally affected by ago4a mutation in microspores, the meiotic products. (Best Papers Award for the 96th Annual Meeting of Genetics Society of Japan)
Selected Publications
Somashekar H, Takanami K, Benitez-Alfonso Y, Oishi A, Hiratsuka R, Nonomura KI. Callose deficiency modulates plasmodesmata frequency and extracellular distance in rice pollen mother and tapetal cells. Ann Bot. 2024 Dec 31;134(6):1013-1026.
Mimura M, Ono S, Somashekar H, Nonomura KI. Impact of protein domains on the MEL2 granule, a cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein complex maintaining faithful meiosis progression in rice. New Phytol. 2024 Sep;243(6):2235-2250.
Tsuda K, Maeno A, Otake A, Kato K, Tanaka W, Hibara KI, Nonomura KI. YABBY and diverged KNOX1 genes shape nodes and internodes in the stem. Science. 2024 Jun 14;384(6701):1241-1247.
Somashekar H, Mimura M, Tsuda K, Nonomura KI. Rice GLUCAN SYNTHASE-LIKE5 promotes anther callose deposition to maintain meiosis initiation and progression. Plant Physiol. 2023 Jan 2;191(1):400-413.
