Partial elucidation of the thermogenesis mechanism in cycad cones

June 4, 2019

Involves a distinctive mitochondria morphology and respiratory chain bypass pathway

A collaborative research group from Miyazaki University, RIKEN CSRS and Kyushu University have succeeded in capturing cone thermogenesis in Cycas revoluta via thermography, a first for this native Japanese gymnosperm. Since little is known about thermogenesis in C. revoluta cones, these research results have dramatically advanced understanding of the thermogenesis mechanism.

A deeper understanding of the mechanism underlying floral or cone thermogenesis could lead to the development of technologies that promote the growth of agricultural crops in cold-weather climates and assist in the synthesis and dispersal ofvolatile odor components in plants.

Original article

Plant Physiology doi:10.1104/pp.19.00150

Y. Ito-Inaba, M. Sato, M. P. Sato, Y. Kurayama, H. Yamamoto, M. Ohata, Y. Ogura, T. Hayashi, K. Toyooka, T. Inaba,

"Alternative oxidase capacity of mitochondria in microsporophylls may function in cycad thermogenesis".

Contact

Kiminori Toyooka

Senior Technical Scientist

Mass Spectrometry and Microscopy Unit