Discovery of new drug seeds for psychiatric disorders targeting DNA methylation

Research Project

Project/Area Number	15K08011
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Section	一般
Research Field	Natural medicines
Research Institution	Setsunan University
Principal Investigator	INATOMI Yuka 摂南大学, 薬学部, 助教 (00258089)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	荒木良太摂南大学, 薬学部, 助教 (90710682)
Project Period (FY)	2015-10-21 – 2018-03-31
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
Budget Amount *help	¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000) Fiscal Year 2017: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000) Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000) Fiscal Year 2015: ¥2,340,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥540,000)
Keywords	DNAメチル化 / 生理活性物質 / 天然物化学 / エピジェネティクス
Outline of Final Research Achievements	Several studies have suggested that DNA methylation in the promoter regions of Bdnf gene is involved in the development of mood and psychiatric disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. In this study, we established the convenient assay system for evaluation of DNA methylation levels in the bdnf promoter region, by the incorporation of the reporter construct into the genome of Neuro2A cells. The assay system may be a useful screening tool for drug candidates which have DNA demethylation activities.