植物の体内時計における温度感知機構を解明 (Researchers Reveal Temperature Sensing Mechanism for Timekeeping in Plants)

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2026-08-13 中国科学院(CAS)

中国科学院(Chinese Academy of Sciences)の研究チームは、植物が気温変化を感知しながら約24時間周期の概日時計(サーカディアンリズム)を維持する仕組みを解明した。研究では、光受容体phyB、時計タンパク質PRR9、RNA脱メチル化酵素ALKBH9Bからなる制御モジュールが温度センサーとして機能することを発見した。低温時にはphyBがPRR9を核内で隔離し、朝型遺伝子CCA1への抑制作用を弱める。一方、高温時にはPRR9が活性化され、CCA1遺伝子の転写抑制に加え、ALKBH9Bと協働してCCA1 mRNAのm6A修飾を除去し分解を促進する。PRR9は核内と細胞質の両方でCCA1量を精密に制御することで、高温環境下でも概日時計の周期を安定して約24時間に保つ。この成果は、地球温暖化が進む中で植物が環境変化へ適応する分子機構の理解を深めるとともに、高温耐性作物の育種技術開発に重要な基盤を提供する。


Graphical representation of the thermoregulatory module for timekeeping. (Image by HE Yuqing and WANG Xiling)

<関連情報>

シロイヌナズナにおける時間計測のための体温調節モジュール A thermoregulatory module for timekeeping in Arabidopsis

Yuqing He, Xiling Wang, Chen Su, Yufan Niu, Yumei Qin, Jiashuo Zhang, Lei Wang
Developmental Cell  Available online: 7 August 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2026.07.011

Highlights

  • PRR9 transmits temperature input and modulates temperature compensation
  • High temperature promotes PRR9 protein accumulation and phase separation
  • Temperature regulates the interactions between phyB and PRR9
  • PRR9 recruits m6A eraser ALKBH9B at high temperatures to maintain circadian speed

Summary

Circadian clocks enable plants to predict temperature changes and adapt to the living climate, known as temperature entrainment and temperature compensation (TC), with largely unrevealed mechanisms. Here, we proposed that the circadian component PRR9 (PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATOR 9) has evolved for thermal adaptation by acting as a hub factor in transmitting temperature input and maintaining TC. High temperature promotes PRR9 protein accumulation and triggers liquid-liquid phase separation, which not only directly inhibits the transcription level of CCA1 but also facilitates the recruitment of ALKBH9B to remove m6A installation and accelerates CCA1 mRNA degradation. Moreover, we proposed a phyB-PRR9 thermoregulatory module to transmit progressively rising temperature via temperature-dependent interacting compartment alteration that regulates the repressive phase and activity of PRR9. Our findings unmasked plants that possess intricate high-temperature sensing mechanisms for adaptation to warming climates, laying a foundation for engineering thermo-resilient crops.

細胞遺伝子工学
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