Exploring the functions of leptin in fish(Fostering Joint International Research)

• Project/Area Number: 15KK0288
• Research Category: Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Aquatic life science
• Research Institution: Fisheries Research and Education Agency
• Principal Investigator: Murashita Koji 国立研究開発法人水産研究・教育機構, 増養殖研究所, 主任研究員 (60597649)
• Research Collaborator: Rønnestad Ivar ベルゲン大学, 生物科学部, 教授 ; Gomes Ana S. University of Bergen, Researcher ; Berg Gunnar M. University of Bergen, Master student ; Tysse Nina University of Bergen, Master student
• Project Period (FY): 2016 – 2018
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥13,650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥10,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,150,000)
• Keywords: レプチン / レプチン受容体 / ゼブラフィッシュ / ゲノム編集 / 栄養素 / 魚類

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Leptin is a well-known peptide hormone that regulates appetite and energy metabolism in mammals whereas the function of leptin in fish is still obscure. In this study, leptin receptor knock-out (lepr KO) zebrafish was generated using CRISPR/Cas9 system. Gene expression levels of nutrient sensors and transporters of the lepr KO fish were higher than those of wild type after oral administration of single bolus of protein. The generated lepr KO fish will be a powerful tool to reveal the function of fish leptin in the further.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ほ乳類では「レプチン」の作用を抑えると，食欲が旺盛となり良く育つことが知られている。このレプチンによる生育成魚の機構を魚にも応用することで，より効率的な養殖が可能になると考えられる。魚類におけるレプチンの役割にはまだ不明な点が多いが，本研究によってレプチンの作用を持たないモデル魚の作成に成功した。今後，この魚を詳しく調べることで，魚類におけるレプチンの作用の解明が期待できる。

Research Products

• [Int'l Joint Research] ベルゲン大学(ノルウェー) (2017)
• [Journal Article] Appetite-controlling endocrine systems in teleosts (2017)
  • Author(s): Ivar Ronnestad, Ana S. Gomes, Koji Murashita, Rita Angotzi, Elisabeth Jonsson, Helene Volkoff
  • Journal Title: Frontiers in Endocrinology Volume: 8-73 Pages: 1-24
  • DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2017.00073
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Comparative Characterization of the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., Di/Tripeptide Transporters PepT1a and PepT1b (2019)
  • Author(s): Ana S. Gomes, Ivar Ronnestad, Koji Murashita, Francesca Vacca, Raffaella Cinquetti, Amilcare Barca, Anders Aksnes, Elena Bossi, Tiziano Verri
  • Organizer: Experimental Biology 2019
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Brain Distribution of Key Neuropeptides involved in Appetite Control in Atlantic Salmon, Salmo Salar (L.) (2019)
  • Author(s): Floriana Lai, Tharmini Kalananthan, Gunnar M. Berg, Koji Murashita, Ana S. Gomes, Sigurd Handeland, Ivar Ronnestad
  • Organizer: Experimental Biology 2019
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Comparison of aquaculture systems between Japan and Norway (2018)
  • Author(s): Koji Murashita
  • Organizer: Seminars on sustainable aquaculture, resource enhancement and conservation of salmon and other species
  • Int'l Joint Research