Chromatin potential for gene regulation

Administrative Group

Project Area	Chromatin potential for gene regulation
Project/Area Number	18H05526
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Review Section	Biological Sciences
Research Institution	Tokyo Institute of Technology
Principal Investigator	Kimura Hiroshi 東京工業大学, 科学技術創成研究院, 教授 (30241392)
Project Period (FY)	2018-06-29 – 2023-03-31
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2022)
Budget Amount *help	¥39,130,000 (Direct Cost: ¥30,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥9,030,000) Fiscal Year 2022: ¥7,670,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,770,000) Fiscal Year 2021: ¥7,670,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,770,000) Fiscal Year 2020: ¥7,670,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,770,000) Fiscal Year 2019: ¥7,670,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,770,000) Fiscal Year 2018: ¥8,450,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,950,000)
Keywords	クロマチン / 遺伝子発現 / 転写制御 / エピジェネティクス / 発生・分化 / 遺伝子発現制御 / 転写調節 / 細胞核 / エピジェネティクス制御
Outline of Final Research Achievements	The innovative research area aims to elucidate the nature of the "chromatin potential", which refers to the inherent gene expression regulatory ability of chromatin structure. This research management group facilitated collaborative research, fostered young researchers, and circulation of the research achievements. Through interdisciplinary research, we were able to reveal the essence of chromatin potential at various levels, ranging from the molecular complex structure to in vivo, regarding the mechanisms of gene expression control mediated by chromatin structure. We nurtured many young researchers through activities such as young researcher meetings and technical training workshops. Additionally, we were able to disseminate research achievements in the field through organizing international conferences and publishing newsletters.
Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements	多細胞生物の個体を構成する細胞が持つ遺伝情報は全て同じであるが、特定の組織や器官を構成する細胞の性質が異なるのは発現する遺伝子が異なるからである。本領域では、細胞核内のクロマチン構造がどのように遺伝子発現のされやすさ・されにくさを規定しているのか、という根本的な問に答えることを目的として行われた。本総括班研究により、分野融合研究の促進や若手研究育成などが行われた。その結果、単一細胞レベルでクロマチン状態を解析する方法を開発するなど、細胞生物学・分子生物学・ゲノム生物学分野に大きく貢献することができた。これらの知見や技術、若手研究者の育成は、再生医療や細胞治療等にもつながる。