Cellulose Production Research Team

Our aim is the research and development of super trees characterized by improvements in the quantitative and qualitative productivity of woody biomass of cellulose and other substances. By employing genetic modification, we offer high productivity, high glycosylation properties (degradability), high resistance to environmental stress, high-yielding profitability and other useful characteristics to fast-growing trees, namely poplar and eucalyptus. In this way we cooperate with universities, both within the country and overseas, in studying the usefulness of the genetically modified (GM) trees obtained.

Research Fields

Molecular Biology & Genetics / Agricultural Sciences

Research Subjects

• Development of "Super trees" (transgenic trees with improved woody biomass production)
• Evaluation of "Super trees"
• Analysis of the regulatory system for woody biomass production at molecular levels.

Publications

1. Ohtani, M., Nishikubo, N., Xu, B., Yamaguchi, M., Mitsuda, N., Goué, N., Shi, F., Ohme-Takagi, M., and Demura T.:
   "A NAC domain protein family contributing to the regulation of wood formation in poplar"
   Plant J. 67, 499-512 (2011).
2. Yamaguchi, M., Ohtani, M., Mitsuda, M., Kubo, M., Ohme-Takagi, M., Fukuda, H., and Demura, T.:
   "VND-INTERACTING2, a NAC Domain Protein, Negatively Regulates Xylem Vessel Formation in Arabidopsis"
   Plant Cell 22, 1249-1263 (2010).
3. Caño-Delgado, A., Lee, J.Y., and Demura, T.:
   "Regulatory mechanisms for specification and patterning of plant vascular tissues"
   Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. 26, 605-637 (2010).
4. Endo, S., Pesquet, E., Yamaguchi, M., Tashiro, G., Sato, M., Toyooka, K., Nishikubo, N., Udagawa-Motose, M., Kubo, M., Fukuda, H., and Demura, T.:
   "Identifying new components participating in the secondary cell wall formation of vessel elements in zinnia and Arabidopsis."
   Plant Cell 21, 1155-1165 (2009).
5. Kubo, M., Udagawa, M., Nishikubo, N., Horiguchi, G., Yamaguchi, M., Ito, J., Mimura, T., Fukuda, H., and Demura, T.:
   "Transcription switches between protoxylem and metaxylem vessel formation"
   Genes Dev. 19, 1855-1860 (2005).
6. Demura, T., Tashiro, G., Horiguchi, G., Kishimoto, N., Kubo, M., Matsuoka, N., Minami, A., Nagata-Hiwatashi, M., Nakamura, K., Okamura, Y., Sassa, N., Suzuki, S., Yazaki, J., Kikuchi, S., and Fukuda, H. :
   "Visualization by comprehensive microarray analysis of gene expression programs during transdifferentiation of mesophyll cells into xylem cells"
   Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99, 15794-15799 (2002).
7. Demura, T., and Fukuda, H.:
   "Novel vascular cell-specific genes whose expression is regulated temporally and spatially during vascular system development"
   Plant Cell 6, 967-981 (1994).