Molecular Mechanisms for the Establishment of Germ Cells and Their Commitment to Meiosis

• Project/Area Number: 07283101
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: YAMAMOTO Masayuki 東京大学, 大学院・理学系研究科, 教授 (40114706)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SAGATA Noriyuki 九州大学, 大学院・理学研究科, 教授 (80142024) ; ABE Shinichi 熊本大学, 大学院・自然科学研究科, 教授 (90109637) ; NAGAHAMA Yoshitaka 岡崎国立共同研究機構, 基礎生物学研究所, 教授 (50113428) ; MOHRI Hideo 岡崎国立共同研究機構, 基礎生物学研究所, 所長(研究職) (70012268) ; TOYOSHIMA Kumao 東京大学, 医科学研究所, 名誉教授 (90029760)
• Project Period (FY): 1995 – 1999
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 1999)
• Budget Amount: ¥50,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥50,600,000); Fiscal Year 1999: ¥3,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000); Fiscal Year 1998: ¥8,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥8,000,000); Fiscal Year 1997: ¥14,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥14,100,000); Fiscal Year 1996: ¥10,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥10,500,000); Fiscal Year 1995: ¥15,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥15,000,000)
• Keywords: germ cell / meiosis / cell cycle / RNA-binding protein / University and Science / 分子機構

Research Abstract

特定領域研究(A)「生殖細胞の成立と減数分裂移行の分子メカニズム」は、有性生殖に関わるステップのうち、配偶子形成、なかでも生殖系列細胞の発生分化過程と体細胞分裂から減数分裂への切り替えの過程を分子レベルで解き明かすことを目的として、平成7年度から10年度まで集中的な研究活動を行った。その結果、「生殖細胞の成立の分子機構」と「減数分裂の特性とその制御」の2分野で広範な知見の拡大がもたらされ、とりわけ生殖細胞の分化と減数分裂の制御の両者にRNA結合タンパク質が極めて重要な働きをしていることを世界に先駆けて明らかにした。また、体細胞分裂とは異なる特徴をもつ減数分裂の細胞周期を支配する分子機構についても理解が大きく深まった。本研究課題は、4か年に得られたこれらの成果を取りまとめ、生殖細胞の基本的特質と挙動について得られた分子細胞生物学的理解を社会に公開していくことを任務とした。そのため、当該特定領域研究(A)に携わった各班員から成果の概要のレポートと主要な論文の別刷りを集め、それらを冊子体にまとめて後世に残る成果記録を作成した。また本研究課題と連携する形で、科学研究費補助金「研究成果公開促進費」の支援を受けて、第14回「大学と科学」公開シンポジウムに参加し、「生殖細胞:その誕生と振る舞い」というタイトルのもとに二日間にわたって、当該特定領域研究(A)で得られた主要な成果を一般向けに平易に紹介することを行った。

Research Products

• [Publications] Shinozaki-Yabana, S.: "Novel WD-repeat protein Mip1p facilitates function of the meiotic regulator Mei2p in fission yeast"Molecular and Cellular Biology. 20. 1234-1242 (2000)
• [Publications] Karashima, T.: "Caenorhabditis elegans homologue of the human azoospermia factor DAZ is required for oogenesis but not for spermatogenesis"Development. 127. 1069-1079 (2000)
• [Publications] Ikeuchi T.: "cDNA cloning of a novel androgen receptor subtype"Journal of Biological Chemistry. 274. 25205-25209 (1999)
• [Publications] Katsu Y.: "Translational regulation of cyclin B mRNA by 17alpha,20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (maturation-inducing hormone) during oocyte maturation in a teleost fish, the goldfish (Carassius auratus)"Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 158. 79-85 (1999)
• [Publications] Kitano T.: "Suppression of P450 aromatase gene expression in sex-reversed males produced by rearing genetically female larvae at a high water temperature during a period of sex differentiation in the Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)"Journal of Molecular Endocrinology. 23. 167-176 (1999)
• [Publications] Nakajo, N.: "Absence of Weel ensures the meiotic cell cycle in Xenopus oocytes"Genes & Development. 14. 328-338 (2000)
• [Publications] Watanaba, Y.: "Phosphorylation of RNA-binding protein controls cell cycles from mitotic to meiotic in fission yeast"Nature. 386. 187-190 (1997)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] Tokumoto, T.: "Initiation of cyclin B degradation by the 26S proteasome upon egg activation"Jouranl of Cell Biology. 138. 1313-1322 (1997)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] Yanashita, A.: "RNA-assisted nuclear transport of the meiotic regulator Mei2p in fission yeast"Cell. 95. 115-123 (1998)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] Ikeuchi, T.: "cDNA cloning of a novel androgen receptor subtype"Journal of Biological Chemistry. 274. 25205-25209 (1999)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] Karashima, T.: "Caenorhabditis elegans homologue of the human azoospermia factor DAZ is required for ooganesis but not for spermatogenesis"Development. 127. 1069-1079 (2000)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] Nakajo, N.: "Absence of Weel ensures the meiotic cell cycle in Xenopus oocytes"Genes&Development. 14. 328-338 (2000)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] Watanabe, Y., Shinozaki-Yabana, S., Chikashige, Y., Hiraoka, Y. and Yamamoto, M.: "Phosphorylation of RNA-binding protein controls cell cycle switch from mitotic to meiotic in fission yeast"Nature. 386. 187-190 (1997)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] Tokumoto, T., Yamashita, M., Tokumoto, M. Katsu, Y., Horiguchi, R, Kajiura, H. and Nagahama, Y: "Initiation of cyclin B degradation by the 26S proteasome upon egg activation"Journal of Cell Biology. 138. 1313-1322 (1997)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] Yamashita, A., Watanabe, Y., Nukina, N. and Yamamoto, M.: "RNA-assisted nuclear transport of the meiotic regulator Mei2p in fission yeast"Cell. 95. 115-123 (1998)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] Ikeuchi, T., Todo, T., Kobayashi, T. and Nagahama, Y.: "cDNA cloning of a novel androgen receptor subtype"Journal of Biological Chemistry. 274. 25205-25209 (1999)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] Karashima, T., Sugimoto, A. and Yamamoto, M.: "Caenorhabditis elegans homologue of the human azoospermia factor DAZ is required for oogenesis but not for spermatogenesis"Development. 127. 1069-1079 (2000)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] Nakajo, N., Yoshitome, S., Iwashita, J., Iida, M., Uto, K., Ueno, S., Okamoto, K. and Sagata, N.: "Absence of Weel ensures the meiotic cell cycle in Xenopus oocytes"Genes & Development. 14. 328-338 (2000)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] Yamashita,A.: "RNA-assisted nuclear transport of the meiotic regulator Mei2p in fission yeast." Cell. 95. 115-123 (1998)
• [Publications] Hayashizaki,S.: "Characterization of the C.elegans gap-2 gene encoding a novel Ras-GTPase activating protein and its possible role in larval development." Genes to Cells. 3. 189-202 (1998)
• [Publications] Kobayashi,T.: "A novel stage-specific antigen is expressed only in early stages of spermatogenesis in Japanese eel,Anguilla japonica testis." Molecular Reproduction and Development. 51. 355-361 (1998)
• [Publications] Yamamoto,T.: "Newt Rad51: Cloning of cDNA and analysis of gene expression during the spermatogenesis." Development Growth and Differentiation. (in press). (1999)
• [Publications] Iwashita,J.: "Essential role of germinal vesicle material in the meiotic cell cycle of Xenopus oocytes." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.95. 4392-4397 (1998)
• [Publications] Nakajo,N: "Involvement of Chk1 kinase in prophase I arrest of Xenopus oocytes." Developmental Biology. (in press). (1999)
• [Publications] Yamashita,A.: "Microtuble-associated coiled-coil protein Ssm4 is involved in the meiotic development in fission yeast." Genes to Cells. 2. 155-166 (1997)
• [Publications] Kitayama,C.: "Type II myosin heavy chain encoded by the myo2 gene composes the contractile ring during cytokinesis in Schizosaccharomycespombe." Journal of Cell Biology. 137. 1309-1319 (1997)
• [Publications] Nagahama,Y.: "17α,20β-Dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one,a maturation-inducing hormone in fish oocytes:Mechanisms of synthesis and action." Steroids. 62. 190-196 (1997)
• [Publications] Yoshinobu,K.: "Primary structures of sperm-specific basic nuclear proteins and gene expression in Japanese newt,Cynops pyrrhogaster." Molecular Reproduction and Development. 46. 243-251 (1997)
• [Publications] Furuno,N.: "Meiotic cell cycle in Xenopus oocytes is independent of cdk2 kinase." EMBO Journal. 16. 3860-3865 (1997)
• [Publications] Watanabe,Y.: "Phosphorylation of RNA-binding protein controls cell cycle switch from mitotic to meiotic in fission yeast." Nature. (印刷中). (1997)
• [Publications] Yabana,N.: "Schizosaccharomycespombe mapl^+ encodes a MADS-box family protein required for cell-type-specific gene expression." Molecular and Cellular Biology. 16. 3420-3428 (1996)
• [Publications] Tokumoto,T.: "Initiation of cyclin B degradation by the 26S proteasome upon egg activation." Journal of Cell Biology. (印刷中). (1997)
• [Publications] Yamamoto,T.: "Expression of activin β subunit genes in Sertoli cells of newt testis." Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communication. 224. 451-456 (1996)
• [Publications] Okazaki,K.: "Isolation of a cDNA encoding the Xenopus homologue of mammalian Cdc-25A that can induce meiotic maturation of oocytes." Gene. 178. 111-114 (1996)
• [Publications] Yamamoto, M.: "The molecular control machanisms of meiosis in fission yeast." Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 21. 18-22 (1996)
• [Publications] Yamashita, M.: "Molecular mechanisms of the activation of maturation-promoting factor during goldfish oocyte maturation." Developmental Biology. 168. 62-75 (1995)
• [Publications] Maekawa, K.: "Proliferation of newt spermatogonia by mammalian FSH via Sertoli cells in vitro." Journal of Experimental Zoology. 272. 363-373 (1995)
• [Publications] Sagata, N.: "Meiotic metaphase arrest in animal oocytes: its mechanisms and biological significance." Trends in Cell Biology. 6. 22-28 (1996)