Nagoya University and others successfully sequenced the entire genome of Hanemo, a giant single-celled creature that grows over 10 cm – Livedoor News

On the 22nd, Nagoya University announced that it had succeeded in deciphering with high precision the entire genome of the giant unicellular creature Hanemo, which grows over 10 cm.

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Honey moth is a type of seaweed, but although it is a single-celled organism, much is not known about how it forms its huge body.

The results of this research explore the mysterious nature of the honeymoon at a genetic level.

■What is Hanemo?

Hanemo is a type of seaweed, but there are many mysteries surrounding it.

For example, the honeymoon is a single-celled organism that can grow to over 10 cm in size. These cells are 1,000 times larger than normal animal and plant cells, but we have no idea how they form their gigantic bodies.

Additionally, the honeymoon is able to regenerate itself from the cytoplasm (cell contents) spread out into the ocean, but little is known about the mechanism behind this amazing regenerative ability.

However, it is difficult to decipher the genome of seaweeds like honeymoon. This is because it is difficult to distinguish between the DNA of the microorganisms living symbiotically with seaweed and the DNA of the seaweed itself.

This time, the research group established a stable cultivation method for the honeymoon indoors, and by sterilizing bacteria during cultivation, succeeded in decoding the entire genome of the honeymoon.

■ Approaching the mystery of honeymoon at the genetic level

As a result, several genetic characteristics have been revealed that bring us closer to the mystery of the nature of the honeymoon.

First, they found 15 genes called BPL-1, which are involved in the aggregation of protoplasm when the honeymoon regenerates from protoplasm. This gene is not found at all in other large green algae that have weak regenerative abilities.

According to the research group, large-scale duplication of BPL-1 may maintain the honeymoon’s amazing regenerative ability.

In addition, 34 kinesin genes were found in the honeymoon, but only one myosin gene was found.

All of these genes are involved in the transport of substances within cells, but myosin genes are more prevalent in other macroalgae.

This suggests that the kinesin-microtubule system may play a central role in intracellular transport of substances in the honeymoon.

The research group believes that the results of this study are expected to lead to new developments in the field of phycology, which has been under-researched compared to other plants and animals due to the lack of highly accurate genomic information.

This result was the result of joint research between Tokyo Institute of Technology and the National Institute of Genetics, and was published in the scientific journal “The Plant Journal” on April 21, 2024.