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Phylogenetic analysis of pigment cell differentiation

Research Project

Project/Area Number 08044186
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for international Scientific Research

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
SectionJoint Research
Research Field 遺伝
Research InstitutionTohoku University

Principal Investigator

YAMAMAOTO Hiroaki  Tohoku Univ., Graduate School of Science, Associate Prof., 大学院・理学研究科, 助教授 (40174809)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 佐藤 滋  自治医科大学, 生物学科, 助手 (70306108)
GODING Colin  マリーキューリー研究所, 教授
COLIN Goding  Marie Curie Research Institute, Professor
Project Period (FY) 1996 – 1998
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1998)
Budget Amount *help
¥3,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,500,000)
Fiscal Year 1998: ¥1,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000)
Fiscal Year 1997: ¥1,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000)
Fiscal Year 1996: ¥1,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000)
KeywordsPigment cell / TRP gene / Tyrosinase gene / Ascidians / Vertebrates / Urochordata / Phylogenitic analysis / microphthalmia gene / ゲノム解析 / チロシナーゼ / クローニング / チロシナーゼ関連タンパク質
Research Abstract

The main purpose of this project was to analyze phylogenetically the molecular mechanisms of pigment cell differentiation. The first step was to clone ascidian homologues for vertebrate genes involved in differentiation of pigment cells. Then, we analyzed the gene structures from phylogenetic view points. Their expression patterns were also analyzed.
We obtained the following results.
a. Putative ascidian tyrosinase gene encoding a key enzyme essential for melanin biosynthesis was cloned and their expression patterns were analyzed.
b. Putative ascidian tyrosinase-related protein gene was also cloned. This gene showed the very early onset of expression in the course of ascidian development similar to those of vertebrate homologues.
c. We identified several cis-acting elements in their regulatory regions.
d. Putative ascidian MITF(microphthalmia-associated transcription factor) gene was cloned.Vertebrate MITF is known to activate expression of tyrosinase and its related genes. We had found that MITF-M is an essential isoform to allow differentiation of melanocyte from neural crest cells in vertebrates. Ascidian MITF homologue can not express the M-isoform.
e. Ascidian MITF homologue can transactivate both ascidian tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein genes but also vertebrate tyrosinase and TRP genes. On the other hand, only one of vertebrate MITF isoforms can transactivate the ascidian TRP gene.

Report

(4 results)
  • 1998 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1997 Annual Research Report
  • 1996 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (9 results)

All Other

All Publications (9 results)

  • [Publications] Amae, S: "Identification of a novel isoform of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor that is enriched in pigment epithelium." Biochem.Biophys.Res.Comm.247. 710-715 (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1998 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Yuasa, H.J.: "The structural organization of the ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi calmodulin genes : the vicissitude of introns during the evolution of calmodulin genes." Gene, accepted.(1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1998 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Amae, S.et al.: "Identification of a novel isoform of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor that is enriched in pigment epithelium." Biochem.Biophys.Res.Comm.247. 710-715 (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1998 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Yuasa, H.et al.: "The structural organization of the ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi calmodulin genes : the vicissitude of introns during the evolution of calmodulin genes." Gene. (accepted). (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1998 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Amae,S: "Identification of a novel isoform of microphthalmia-associated transcription facto that is enriched in pigment epithelium." Biochem.Biophys.Res.Comm.247. 710-715 (1998)

    • Related Report
      1998 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Yuasa,H.J.genes:the: "The structural organization of the ascidian,Halocynthia roretzi calmodulin vicissitude of introns during the evolution of calmodulin genes." Gene,accepted.(1999)

    • Related Report
      1998 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Sato, S.: "Ascidian tyrosinase gene:its unique structure and expression in the developing brain" Developmental Dynamics. 208. 363-374 (1997)

    • Related Report
      1997 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Wada, H: "Neural tube is partially dorsalized by overexpession of HrPax-37:The ascidian homologue of Pax-3 and Pax-7" Developmental Biology. 187. 240-252 (1997)

    • Related Report
      1997 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Shigeru Sato: "Ascidian Tyrosinase Gene : Its Unique Structure and Expression in the Developing Brain" Developmental Dynamics. 208. 1-12 (1997)

    • Related Report
      1996 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1996-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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