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Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita Last modified date:2024.03.10

Professor / Bioscience & Biotechnology, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences
Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology
Faculty of Agriculture


Graduate School


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Homepage
https://kyushu-u.elsevierpure.com/en/persons/akiko-maruyama
 Reseacher Profiling Tool Kyushu University Pure
Phone
092-802-4712
Fax
092-802-4712
Academic Degree
Ph.D
Country of degree conferring institution (Overseas)
Yes
Field of Specialization
Plant Science, Plant Nutrition
Total Priod of education and research career in the foreign country
00years00months
Outline Activities
I am responsible for undergraduate and graduate education in disciplines related to plant nutrition, i.e., Molecular Biology, Analytical Chemistry, and Plant Physiology, etc.
Our research focuses on the mechanisms and regulation of the acquisition, assimilation, and metabolism of sulfur, an essential plant nutrient, as well as the contribution of sulfur metabolism and sulfur-containing metabolites to the environmental stress responses (nutrient deficiencies, heavy metals, drought, disease, etc.) in plants.
I'm also contributing the society through volunteering activities such as education, public seminars, and committee member activities in the related academic organizations.
Research
Research Interests
  • Effects of sulfur deficiency on the uptake and transport of other nutrients in plants
    keyword : sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, transport, vascular tissues
    2011.04~2020.03.
  • Regulatory mechanism of glucosinolates catabolism in plants
    keyword : glucosinolates、synthesis、signal transduction
    2016.04~2020.03.
  • Role of sulfur metabolism in plant response and adaptation to environmental stress
    keyword : sulfur metabolism, environmental stress
    2010.05~2027.05.
  • Essentiality of selenium for plants and plant tolerance to selenate
    keyword : selenium, selenate, essentiality, tolerance
    2007.05~2027.05.
  • Effects of heavy metal treatment on sulfur assimilation and metabolism, and the physiological meaning of the effects.
    keyword : Cadmium, Sulfur, Transport, Sulfate
    2010.05~2027.05.
  • Regulatory mechanism of sulfur assimilation and metabolism in plants
    keyword : Sulfur, Sulfate transporter, Sulfur containing compounds, Transcriptional regulation, Signal transduction
    2010.07~2023.07.
  • Identification and characterization of the sulfur response mutants to identify novel regulatory proteins of sulfur assimilation and metabolism
    keyword : sulfur response mutants, regulatory proteins of sulfur assimilation and metabolism
    2001.05~2014.05.
  • Transcriptional regulation of sulfate transporters in response to sulfur nutritional status
    keyword : Sulfate transporter, Transcriptional control, Transcription factor, cis-acting element
    2001.05~2027.05.
  • Molecular mechanism of sulfate uptake and translocation in plants
    keyword : Sulfate, uptake, translocation
    2001.04~2014.05.
  • Functional identification of the proteins which transcript accumulation are regulated by sulfur level
    keyword : Functional identification、sulfur responsive genes
    2001.05~2014.05.
  • Regulatory mechanism of glucosinolates synthesis in plants
    keyword : glucosinolates、synthesis、signal transduction
    2001.04~2014.05.
Academic Activities
Books
1. Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu, Glutathione in plant growth, development and stress tolerance (Eds, MA Hossain, MG Mostofa, PD Vivancos, DJ Burritt, M. Fujita, LS Phan Tran), Springer, 2017.05, Sulfur Assimilation and Glutathione Metabolism in Plants.
Reports
1. A. Maruyama-Nakashita, Metabolic changes sustain the plant life in low-sulfur environments, Current Opinion in Plant Biology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2017.06.015, 2017.11, Plants assimilate inorganic sulfate into various organic sulfur (S) compounds, which contributes to the global sulfur cycle in the environment as well as the nutritional supply of this essential element to animals. Plants, to sustain their lives, adapt the flow of their S metabolism to respond to external S status by activating S assimilation and catabolism of stored S compounds, and by repressing the synthesis of secondary S metabolites like glucosinolates. The molecular mechanism of this response has been gradually revealed, including the discovery of several regulatory proteins and enzymes involved in S deficiency responses. Recent progress in this research area and the remaining issues are reviewed here..
Papers
1. Shunsuke Miyaji, Takehiro Ito, Taisuke Kitaiwa, Kosuke Nishizono, Shin-Ichiro Agake, Hiroki Harata, Haruna Aoyama, Minori Umahashi, Muneo Sato, Jun Inaba, Shinya Fushinobu, Tadashi Yokoyama, Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Masami Yokota Hirai, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu 学生:8人,学生以外:7人, N2-Acetylornithine deacetylase functions as a Cys-Gly dipeptidase in the cytosolic glutathione degradation pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana, Plant Journal, http://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.16700, 2024.03, [URL].
2. Khamsalath Soudthedlath, Toshiki Nakamura, Tsukasa Ushiwatari, Jutarou Fukazawa, Keishi Osakabe, Yuriko Osakabe, Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita 学生:3人,学生以外:4人, SULTR2;1 adjusts the bolting timing by transporting sulfate from rosette leaves to the primary stem, Plant and Cell Physiology, https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcae020, 65, 2024.03, [URL], Sulfur (S) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and metabolism. SULTR2;1 is a low-affinity sulfate transporter facilitating the long-distance transport of sulfate in Arabidopsis. The physiological function of SULTR2;1 in the plant life cycle still needs to be determined. Therefore, we analyzed the sulfate transport, S-containing metabolites accumulation, and plant growth using Arabidopsis SULTR2;1 disruption lines, sultr2;1-1 and sultr2;1-2, from seedling to mature growth stages to clarify the metabolic and physiological roles of SULTR2;1. We observed that sulfate distribution to the stems was affected in sultr2;1 mutants resulting in decreased levels of sulfate, cysteine, glutathione (GSH), and total S in the stems, flowers, and siliques; however, the GSH levels increased in the rosette leaves. This suggested the essential role of SULTR2;1 in sulfate transport from rosette leaves to the primary stem. In addition, sultr2;1 mutants unexpectedly bolted earlier than the wild-type without affecting the plant biomass. Correlation between GSH levels in rosette leaves and the bolting timing suggested the rosette leaf GSH levels or limited sulfate transport to the early stem can trigger bolting. Overall, this study demonstrated the critical roles of SULTR2;1 in maintaining the S metabolite levels in the aerial part and transitioning from the vegetative to the reproductive growth phase..
3. Liu Zhang, Ryota Kawaguchi, Takuo Enomoto, Sho Nishida, Meike Burow, Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita 学生:2人,学生以外:4人, Glucosinolate catabolism maintains glucosinolate profiles and transport in sulfur-starved Arabidopsis., Plant and Cell Physiology, https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcad075, 64, 12, 1534-1550, 2023.12, [URL], Glucosinolates (GSL) are sulfur (S)-rich specialized metabolites presented in Brassicales order plants. Our previous study found that GSL can function as S source in Arabidopsis seedlings via its catabolism catalyzed by two ß-glucosidases, BGLU28 and BGLU30. However, as GSL profiles in plants vary among growth stages and organs, the potential contribution of BGLU28/30-dependent GSL catabolism at the reproductive growth stage needs verification. Thus, in this study, we assessed growth, metabolic, and transcriptional phenotypes of mature bglu28/30 double mutants grown under different S conditions. Our results showed that compared to wild-type plants grown under −S, mature bglu28/30 mutants displayed impaired growth and accumulated increased levels of GSL in their reproductive organs and rosette leaves of before bolting plants. In contrast, the levels of primary S-containing metabolites, glutathione, and cysteine decreased in mature seeds. Furthermore, the transport of GSL from rosette leaves to the reproductive organs was stimulated in the bglu28/30 mutants under −S. Transcriptome analysis revealed that genes related to other biological processes, such as ethylene response, defense response, and plant response to heat, responded differentially to −S in the bglu28/30 mutants. Altogether, these findings broadened our understanding of the roles of BGLU28/30-dependent GSL catabolism in plant adaptation to nutrient stress..
4. J. Piotrowska, Y. Jodoi, N.H. Trang, A. Wawrzynska, H. Takahashi, A. Sirko, A. Maruyama-Nakashita 学生:3人,学生以外:4人, The C-terminal region of SLIM1 transcription factor is required for sulfur deficiency response. , Plants, 10, 11, 2595, 2022.10, [URL].
5. T. Ito, T. Kitaiwa, K. Nishizono, M. Umahashi, S. Miyaji, S. Agake, K. Kuwahara, T. Yokoyama, S. Fushinobu, A. Maruyama-Nakashita, R. Sugiyama, M. Sato, J. Inaba, M.Y. Hirai, N. Ohkama-Ohtsu 学生:7人,学生以外:8人, Glutathione degradation activity of γ-Glutamyl Peptidase 1 manifests its dual roles in primary and secondary sulfur metabolism in Arabidopsis., Plant Journal, 111, 1626-1642, 2022.07.
6. Li Hongqiao, Akiko Suyama, Namiki Mitani-Ueno, Ruediger Hell, Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita 学生:1人,学生以外:4人, A Low Level of NaCl Stimulates Plant Growth by Improving Carbon and Sulfur Assimilation in Arabidopsis thaliana, Plants, https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102138, 10, 10, 2138, 2021.10, [URL], High-salinity stress represses plant growth by inhibiting various metabolic processes. In contrast to the well-studied mechanisms mediating tolerance to high levels of salt, the effects of low levels of salts have not been well studied. In this study, we examined the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana plants under different NaCl concentrations. Interestingly, both shoot and root biomass increased in the presence of 5 mM NaCl, whereas more than 10 mM NaCl decreased plant biomass. To clarify the biological mechanism by which a low level of NaCl stimulated plant growth, we analyzed element accumulation in plants grown under different NaCl concentrations. In addition to the Na and Cl contents, C, S, Zn, and Cu contents were increased under 5 mM NaCl in shoots; this was not observed at higher NaCl concentrations. Adverse effects of high salinity, such as decreased levels of nitrate, phosphate, sulfate, and some cations, did not occur in the presence of 5 mM NaCl. An increase in C was possibly attributed to increased photosynthesis supported by Cl, Zn, and Cu, which also increased in shoots after NaCl application. Salt stress-responsive gene expression was enhanced under 20 mM NaCl but not at lower doses. Among the S metabolites analyzed, cysteine (Cys) was increased by 5 mM NaCl, suggesting that S assimilation was promoted by this dose of NaCl. These results indicate the usefulness of NaCl for plant growth stimulation..
7. Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Yohei Ishibashi, Kyotaro Yamamoto, Liu Zhang, Tomomi Morikawa-Ichinose, Sun-Ju Kim, Nobuya Hayashi 学生:2人,学生以外:5人, Oxygen plasma modulates glucosinolate levels without affecting lipid contents and composition in Brassica napus seeds, Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry, https://doi.org/10.1093/bbb/zbab157, 85, 12, 2434-2441, 2021.09, Rapeseed contains high levels of glucosinolates (GSLs), playing pivotal roles in defense against herbivores and pests. As their presence in rapeseed reduces the value of the meal for animal feeding, intensive efforts to reduce them produced low-seed GSL cultivars. However, there is no such variety suitable for the south part of Japan. Here, we tested the effects of cold oxygen plasma (oxygen CP) on seed germination and GSL and lipid content, in three rapeseed cultivars. According to the cultivars, oxygen CP slightly stimulated seed germination and modified the GSL levels; decreased GSL levels in Westar and Kizakinonatane but increased those in Nanashikibu. In contrast, it negligibly affected the lipid content and composition in the three cultivars. Thus, oxygen CP modulated seed GSL levels without affecting seed viability and lipid content. Future optimization of this technique may help optimize rapeseed GSL content without plant breeding..
8. Y. Nakai, A. Maruyama-Nakashita, Biosynthesis of Sulfur-Containing Small Biomolecules in Plants., Int. J. Mol. Sci., 10.3390/ijms21103470, 21, 3470, 2020.05.
9. A. Allahham, S. Kanno, L. Zhang, A. Maruyama-Nakashita, Sulfur deficiency increases phosphate accumulation, uptake, and transport in Arabidopsis thaliana., Int. J. Mol. Sci., 10.3390/ijms21082971, 21, 2971, 2020.04.
10. T. Morikawa-Ichinose, D. Miura, L. Zhang, S.-J. Kim, A. Maruyama-Nakashita, Involvement of BGLU30 in glucosinolate catabolism in the Arabidopsis leaf under dark conditions., Plant and Cell Physiology, doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcaa035, 61, 1095-1106, 2020.06.
11. Liu Zhang, Ryota Kawaguchi, Tomomi Morikawa-Ichinose, Alaa Allahham, Sun Ju Kim, Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Sulfur deficiency-induced glucosinolate catabolism attributed to two β-glucosidases, bglu28 and bglu30, is required for plant growth maintenance under sulfur deficiency, Plant and Cell Physiology, 10.1093/pcp/pcaa006, 61, 4, 803-813, 2020.04, Sulfur (S) is an essential element for plants, and S deficiency causes severe growth retardation. Although the catabolic process of glucosinolates (GSLs), the major S-containing metabolites specific to Brassicales including Arabidopsis, has been recognized as one of the S deficiency (S) responses in plants, the physiological function of this metabolic process is not clear. Two β-glucosidases (BGLUs), BGLU28 and BGLU30, are assumed to be responsible for this catabolic process as their transcript levels were highly upregulated byS. To clarify the physiological function of BGLU28 and BGLU30 and their roles in GSL catabolism, we analyzed the accumulation of GSLs and other S-containing compounds in the single and double mutant lines of BGLU28 and BGLU30 and in wild-type plants under different S conditions. GSL levels were highly increased, while the levels of sulfate, cysteine, glutathione and protein were decreased in the double mutant line of BGLU28 and BGLU30 (bglu28/30) underfiS. Furthermore, transcript level of Sulfate Transporter1;2, the main contributor of sulfate uptake from the environment, was increased in bglu28/30 mutants underfiS. With these metabolic and transcriptional changes, bglu28/30 mutants displayed obvious growth retardation underfiS. Overall, our results indicate that BGLU28 and BGLU30 are required for-S-induced GSL catabolism and contribute to sustained plant growth underfiS by recycling sulfate to primary S metabolism..
12. Chisato Yamaguchi, Soudthedlath Khamsalath, Yuki Takimoto, Akiko Suyama, Yuki Mori, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu and Akiko Maruyama‐Nakashita, SLIM1 Transcription Factor Promotes Sulfate Uptake and Distribution to Shoot,Along with Phytochelatin Accumulation, Under Cadmium Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana, Plants, doi:10.3390/plants9020163, 9, 163, 2020.01.
13. Yuki Kimura, Tsukasa Ushiwatari, Akiko Suyama, Rumi Tominaga‐Wada, Takuji Wada and Akiko Maruyama‐Nakashita, Contribution of Root Hair Development to Sulfate Uptake in Arabidopsis, Plants, doi:10.3390/plants8040106, 8, 106, 2019.04.
14. Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Metabolic changes sustain the plant life in low-sulfur environments, Current Opinion in Plant Biology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2017.06.015, 93, 144-151, 2017.11, Plants assimilate inorganic sulfate into various organic sulfur (S)
compounds, which contributes to the global sulfur cycle in the
environment as well as the nutritional supply of this essential
element to animals. Plants, to sustain their lives, adapt the flow
of their S metabolism to respond to external S status by
activating S assimilation and catabolism of stored S
compounds, and by repressing the synthesis of secondary S
metabolites like glucosinolates. The molecular mechanism of
this response has been gradually revealed, including the
discovery of several regulatory proteins and enzymes involved
in S deficiency responses. Recent progress in this research
area and the remaining issues are reviewed here..
15. Chisato Yamaguchi, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu, Takuro Shinano, Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Plants prioritize phytochelatin synthesis during cadmium exposure even under reduced sulfate uptake caused by the disruption of SULTR1;2., Plant Signaling & Behavior, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2017.1325053, 2017.05.
16. Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Akiko Suyama, Hideki Takahashi, 5′-non-transcribed flanking region and 5′-untranslated region play distinctive roles in sulfur deficiency induced expression of SULFATE TRANSPORTER 1;2 in Arabidopsis roots, Plant Biotechnology, DOI: 10.5511/plantbiotechnology.16.1226a, 34, 51-55, 2017.03.
17. Chisato Yamaguchi, Yuki Takimoto, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu, Akiko Hokura, Takuro Shinano, Toshiki Nakamura, Akiko Suyama, Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Effects of Cadmium Treatment on the Uptake and Translocation of Sulfate in Arabidopsis thaliana., Plant and Cell Physiology, 57, 2353-2366, 2016.11, Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic and non-essential element
for plants, whereas phytochelatins and glutathione are lowmolecular-
weight sulfur compounds that function as chelators
and play important roles in detoxification. Cadmium
exposure is known to induce the expression of sulfurassimilating
enzymes and sulfate uptake by roots.
However, the molecular mechanism underlying Cd-induced
changes remains largely unknown. Accordingly, we analyzed
the effects of Cd treatment on the uptake and translocation
of sulfate and accumulation of thiols in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Both wild type (WT) and null mutant (sel1-10 and sel1-18)
plants of the sulfate transporter SULTR1;2 exhibited growth
inhibition when treated with CdCl2. However, the mutant
plants exhibited a lower growth rate and lower Cd accumulation.
Cadmium treatment also upregulated the transcription
of SULTR1;2 and sulfate uptake activity in WT plants,
but not in mutant plants. In addition, the sulfate, phytochelatin
and total sulfur contents were preferentially accumulated
in the shoots of both WT and mutant plants treated
with CdCl2, and sulfur K-edge XANES spectra suggested that
sulfate was the main compound responsible for the
increased sulfur content in the shoots of CdCl2-treated
plants. Our results demonstrate that Cd-induced sulfate
uptake depends on SULTR1;2 activity, and that CdCl2 treatment
greatly shifts the distribution of sulfate to shoots, increases
the sulfate concentration of xylem sap and
upregulates the expression of SULTRs involved in root-toshoot
sulfate transport. Therefore, we conclude that root-toshoot
sulfate transport is stimulated by Cd and suggest that
the uptake and translocation of sulfate in CdCl2-treated
plants are enhanced by demand-driven regulatory networks..
18. Fayezeh Aarabi, Miyuki Kusajima, Takayuki Tohge, Tomokazu Konishi, Tamara Gigolashvili, Makiko Takamune, Yoko Sasazaki, Mutsumi Watanabe, Hideo Nakashita, Alisdair R. Fernie, Kazuki Saito, Hideki Takahashi, Hans-Michael Hubberten, Rainer Hoefgen, Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Sulfur deficiency–induced repressor proteins optimize glucosinolate biosynthesis in plants, Science Advances, 2, e1601087, 2016.10, Glucosinolates (GSLs) in the plant order of the Brassicales are sulfur-rich secondary metabolites that harbor antipathogenic and antiherbivory plant-protective functions and have medicinal properties, such as carcinopreventive and antibiotic activities. Plants repress GSL biosynthesis upon sulfur deficiency (−S); hence, field performance and medicinal quality are impaired by inadequate sulfate supply. The molecular mechanism that links –S to GSL biosynthesis has remained understudied. We report here the identification of the –S marker genes sulfur deficiency induced 1 (SDI1) and SDI2 acting as major repressors controlling GSL biosynthesis in Arabidopsis under –S condition.
SDI1 and SDI2 expression negatively correlated with GSL biosynthesis in both transcript and metabolite
levels. Principal components analysis of transcriptome data indicated that SDI1 regulates aliphatic GSL biosynthesis as part of –S response. SDI1 was localized to the nucleus and interacted with MYB28, a major transcription factor that promotes aliphatic GSL biosynthesis, in both yeast and plant cells. SDI1 inhibited the transcription of aliphatic GSL biosynthetic genes by maintaining the DNA binding composition in the form of an SDI1-MYB28 complex, leading to down-regulation of GSL biosynthesis and prioritization of sulfate usage for primary metabolites under sulfur-deprived conditions..
19. Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Combinatorial use of sulfur-responsive regions of sulfate transporters provides a highly sensitive plant-based system for detecting selenate and chromate in the environment, Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 62, 2016.03.
20. Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Akiko Watanabe-Takahashi, Eri Inoue, Tomoyuki Yamaya, Kazuki Saito, Hideki Takahashi, Sulfur-responsive elements in the 3’-non-transcribed intergenic region are essential for the induction of Sulfate Transporter 2;1 gene expression in Arabidopsis roots under sulfur deficiency., The Plant Cell, 27, 1279-1296, 2015.04, Under sulfur deficiency (–S), plants induce expression of the sulfate transport systems in roots to increase uptake and root-to-shoot transport of sulfate. The low-affinity sulfate transporter SULTR2;1 is predominantly expressed in xylem parenchymaand pericycle cells in Arabidopsis thaliana roots under –S. The mechanisms underlying –S-inducible expression of SULTR2;1
in roots have remained unclear, despite the possible significance of SULTR2;1 for acclimation to low-sulfur conditions. In this investigation, examination of deletions and base substitutions in the 3'-intergenic region of SULTR2;1 revealed novel sulfur-responsive elements, SURE21A (5'-CAATGTATC-3') and SURE21B (5'-CTAGTAC-3'), located downstream of the SULTR2;1
3'-untranslated region. SURE21A and SURE21B effectively induced reporter gene expression from fusion constructs under –S in combination with minimal promoters or promoters not inducible by –S, suggesting their versatility in controlling transcription. T-DNA insertions near SURE21A and SURE21B abolished –S-inducible expression of SULTR2;1 in roots and reduced the uptake and root-to-shoot transport of sulfate. In addition, these mutations partially suppressed SULTR2;1 expression in shoots, without changing its –S-responsive expression. These findings indicate that SULTR2;1 contributes to the increase in uptake and internal translocation of sulfate driven by gene expression induced under the control of sulfur-responsive elements in the 3'-nontranscribed intergenic region of SULTR2;1..
21. C. Kawashima, N. Yoshimoto, A. Maruyama-Nakashita, Y. Tsuchiya, K. Saito, H. Takahashi, T. Dalamy , Sulphur starvation induces the expression of microRNA-395 and one of its target genes but in different cell types. , The Plant J. , 57, 313 – 321, 2009.05.
22. M. Yasuda, A. Ishikawa, Y. Jikumaru, M. Seki, T. Umezawa, T. Asami, A. Maruyama-Nakashita, T. Kudo, K. Shinozaki, S. Yoshida, H. Nakashita , Antagonistic interaction between systemic acquired resistance and the abscisic acid-mediated abiotic stress response in Arabidopsis. , The Plant Cell. , 2008.06.
23. A. Maruyama-Nakashita, Y. Nakamura, T. Tohge, K. Saito, H. Takahashi , Central transcriptional regulator of plant sulfur response and metabolism. , The Plant Cell , 18: 3235-3251., 2006.11.
24. A. Maruyama-Nakashita, Y. Nakamura, A. Watanabe-Takahashi, E. Inoue, T. Yamaya, H. Takahashi, Identification of a novel cis-acting element conferring sulfur deficiency response in Arabidopsis roots. , The Plant J. , 42: 305-314., 2005.05.
25. A. Maruyama-Nakashita, Y. Nakamura, T. Yamaya, H. Takahashi , A novel regulatory pathway of sulfate uptake in Arabidopsis roots: implication of CRE1/WOL/AHK4-mediated cytokinin-dependent regulation. , The Plant J. , 38: 779-789., 2004.05.
26. A. Maruyama-Nakashita, E. Inoue, A. Watanabe-Takahashi, T. Yamaya, H. Takahashi , Transcriptome profiling of sulfur-responsive genes in Arabidopsis reveals global effects of sulfur nutrition on multiple metabolic pathways., Plant Physiol. , 132: 597-605., 2003.05.
27. A. Maruyama, K. Ishizawa and K. Saito , ß-Cyanoalanine synthase and cysteine synthase from potato: molecular cloning, biochemical characterization, and spatial and hormonal regulation. , Plant Mol. Biol. , 46: 749-760., 2001.05.
28. A. Maruyama, K. Ishizawa and T. Takagi , Purification and characterization of ß-cyanoalanine synthase and cysteine synthases from potato tubers. ß-Cyanoalanine synthase and mitochondrial cysteine synthase are the same enzyme? , Plant Cell Physiol. , 41: 200-208., 2000.05.
Presentations
1. Li H., Suyama A., Mitani-Ueno N., Hell R., and Maruyama-Nakashita A. 学生:1人,学生以外:4人, Plant growth stimulation by a low NaCl level accompanied the increased carbon and sulfur assimilation in Arabidopsis thaliana, JSBBA West 4th Student Forum, 2021.12.
2. Soudthedlath K, Yamaguchi C, Nakamura T, Ichinose T, and Maruyama-Nakashita A. 学生:3人,学生以外:2人, Phenotypic characterization of disrupted Arabidopsis plants for sulfate transporters SULTR2;1 and SULTR3;5, JSBBA West 4th Student Forum, 2021.12.
3. Liu Zhang, Ryota Kawaguchi, Tomomi Morikawa-Ichinose, Alaa Allahham, Sun-Ju Kim, Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Glucosinolate Catabolism Dependent on Two ß-Glucosidases, BGLU28 and BGLU30, is Critical for Plant Growth under Sulfur Deficiency, 第62回日本植物生理学会年会, 2021.03.
4. NGUYEN Ha Trang, SUYAMA Akiko, OHTAKI Chihiro, MARUYAMA-NAKASHITA Akiko , Potential use of sulfur-responsive region of sulfate transporter SULTR2;1 for control of recombinant gene expression in plants, JSBBA West 3rd Student Forum, 2020.12.
5. 丸山明子, 草島美幸, 高宗万希子, 光田展隆, 木村侑希, 仲下英雄, 髙橋秀樹, 硫黄欠乏下での硫酸イオン吸収の増加に寄与するWRKY転写因子, 第59回日本植物生理学会, 2018.03.
6. Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Sulfur deficiency responses in plants: Regulation of sulfate transport and Trade-off of the primary and secondary sulfur metabolism in Arabidopsis
, 2016.09.
7. 丸山 明子, 草島 美幸, Tamara Gigolashvili, 小西 智一, 仲下 英雄, SDI1 inhibits aliphatic GSL biosynthesis through the interaction with MYB28, 第58回日本植物生理学会, 2017.03.
8. Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Detection and Quantification of Selenate and Chromate Using Sulfur-Responsive Regions of Sulfate Transporters
, The 5th SULPHYTON WORKSHOP, 2016.09.
9. Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Sulfur deficiency response in plants: Trade-off of the primary and secondary sulfur metabolism , The 5th SULPHYTON WORKSHOP, 2016.09.
10. Chisato Yamaguchi, Yuki Takimoto, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu, Akiko Hokura, Takuro Shinano, Toshiki Nakamura, Akiko Suyama, Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Effects of Cadmium Treatment on the Uptake and Translocation of Sulfate in Arabidopsis thaliana, The 5th SULPHYTON WORKSHOP, 2016.09.
11. Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Akiko Watanabe-Takahashi, Eri Inoue, Tomoyuki Yamaya, Kazuki Saito, Hideki Takahashi, Sulfur-Responsive Elements in 3’-Non-Transcribed Region of SULFATE TRANSPORTER 2;1 : Essential Role in Transcriptional Regulation, Sulfate Uptake and Translocation in Arabidopsis Roots under Sulfur-Deficient Conditions., The 27th International Conference on Arabidopsis Research, 2016.07.
12. Chisato Yamaguchi, Yuki Takimoto, Akiko Hokura, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu, Takuro Shinano, Akiko Suyama, Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Effects of Cadmium Treatment on Uptake and Translocation of Sulfate in Arabidopsis thaliana
, The 27th International Conference on Arabidopsis Research, 2016.07.
13. Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Yuki Takimoto, Eri Inoue, Kazuki Saito, Hideki Takahashi, Detection and Quantification of Selenate and Chromate Using Sulfur-Responsive Regions of Sulfate Transporters, 13th International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, ICOBTE 2015 FUKUOKA, 2015.07.
14. Chisato Yamaguchi, Yuki Takimoto, Takuro Shinano, Akiko Hokura, Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Effects of Cadmium Treatment on Uptake and Translocation of Sulfate in Arabidopsis thaliana, 13th International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, ICOBTE 2015 FUKUOKA, 2015.07.
15. Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Hiromi Makino, Akiko Suyama, Ryuichi Nishihama, Kimitsune Ishizaki, Takayuki Kohchi, Sulfate transporters in Marchantia polymorpha: Molecular species and the responses to sulfur nutrition, Marchantia Workshop 2014, 2014.12.
16. Hiromi Makino, Yuka Maeda, Yuuki Jodoi, Akiko Suyama, Sakiko Ishida, Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Kimitsune Ishizaki, Ryuichi Nishihama, Takayuki Kohchi, Functional analysis of MpEIL in relation to ethylene and sulfur nutrition response, Marchantia Workshop 2014, 2014.12.
17. 丸山 明子, Makiko Takamune, Yuki Kimura, Yumiko Nakamura, Kazuki Saito, Hideki Takahashi, A novel cis-acting element and transcription factor involved in the induction of SULTR1;2 expression and sulfate uptake activity under sulfur limitation in Arabidopsis roots, 9th International Workshop SULFUR METABOLISM IN PLANTS, 2014.04, Background:
When plants become sulfur deficient (-S), they increase sulfate uptake capacity as one of the acclimation processes. In Arabidopsis, the transcript level of SULTR1;2, a high-affinity sulfate transporter facilitates sulfate uptake from the environment, is highly induced under –S condition (1, 2). The –S response of SULTR1;2 is controlled by SLIM1 transcription factor (3). To determine the how sulfate uptake activity is induced by -S, we tried to identify the cis-acting element and transcription factors involved in the –S-response of SULTR1;2.

Methods:
SULTR1;2 promoter region was dissected by deletion and base substitution analysis in transgenic Arabidopsis using luciferase as a reporter. Luciferase activities in the roots of transgenic plants grown under sulfur sufficient (+S) and –S conditions were analyzed and the regions indispensable for the –S response were determined.
WRKY transcription factors which transcript levels were induced by –S in SLIM1-dependent manner were collected using microarray data (3). Transcript levels of SULTR1;2 and sulfate uptake activity were analyzed as described in 3.

Results:
The results of deletion analysis indicated that –S-responsive expression of SULTR1;2 requires the regions from –371 to –360 and –328 to –323. The –371/–360 region contained a WRKY binding sequence (TGAC), and the -328/-323 region contained a SEF4 motif (AAAAAT), respectively.
There were 3 WRKY transcription factors which transcript levels were induced by –S in wild-type plants but not in slim1 mutants. Then we isolated T-DNA insertion mutants of the 3 WRKYs, and analyzed SULTR1;2 expression and sulfate uptake activity under +S and –S conditions. Significant down-regulation was observed in a mutant under –S condition, suggesting the involvement of the WRKY transcription factor in –S-inducible expression of SULTR1;2 and sulfate uptake.

Conclusion
A novel cis-acting element and a WRKY transcription factor involved in –S response of SULTR1;2 was determined.

References
1) Shibagaki N, Rose A, McDermott JP, Fujiwara T, Hayashi H, Yoneyama T, Davies JP. Plant J. 29, 475-486.
2) Yoshimoto N, Takahashi H, Smith FW, Yamaya T, Saito K. Plant J. 29, 465-473.
3) Maruyama-Nakashita A, Nakamura Y, Tohge T, Saito K, Takahashi H Plant Cell, 18, 3235-3251.
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Membership in Academic Society
  • Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology and Agrochemistry
  • Japan Transporter Research Association: JTRA
  • Japanese Society for Plant Biotechnology
  • Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
  • The Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists
Educational
Educational Activities
I'm conducting the education related to Plant Nutrition and the related subject to graduate and undergraduate students.
Class for undergraduate: Experimental course, Plant Physiology & Biochemistry, Scientific English, Molecular Biology, Special Lecture on Advanced Topics of Agriculture.
Class for the graduate: Molecular Biosciences, Advanced Course of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
Other Educational Activities
  • 2012.04.
  • 2009.04.