Epitranscriptome analysis of cancer cells

• Project/Area Number: 16K07113
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Tumor biology
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Semi Katsunori 京都大学, iPS細胞研究所, 特定研究員 (90633058)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥5,070,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,170,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
• Keywords: がん / エピトランスクリプトーム / エピゲノム / ヒトES細胞 / 癌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

DNA methylation is one of the epigenetic modifications known as the regulator of gene expression, but RNA is also known to be methylated. In this study, we focused on RNA methylation related genes and found that the knockdown of RNA methylation related genes suppressed the ability of tumor formation in vivo. Currently, we are searching for genes with altered splicing patterns and genes related to tumorigenicity by RNA-seq analysis, as well as identifying genes related to metabolic pathway observed in oncogenic processes.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年、スプライシングを標的とした抗がん剤に注目が集まっている。抗がん活性を持つスプライソスタチンAやブラジエノライドBが、スプライソソームの構成因子を抑制していることが明らかになるなど、がんの生存において、スプライシングが重要な役割を占めていることが明らかになりつつある。がん細胞特異的なスプライシング変化とその誘導メカニズムを明らかにすることは、新規の抗がん剤治療標的の探索にもつながると考えられる。

Research Products

• [Presentation] Oncogene expression stabilizes cancer cell identity, revealed by cancer cell reprogramming (2017)
  • Author(s): Katsunori Semi
  • Organizer: 先端モデル動物支援プラットフォーム 成果発表会
  • Place of Presentation: 滋賀
  • Year and Date: 2017-02-06
• [Presentation] Oncogene expression stabilizes cancer cell identity, revealed by cancer cell reprogramming (2017)
  • Author(s): Katsunori Semi
  • Organizer: ISSCR Annual Meeting 2017
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Oncogene Expression Stabilizes Cancer Cell Identity, Revealed by Cancer Cell Reprogramming (2016)
  • Author(s): Katsunori Semi
  • Organizer: The 35th Sapporo International Cancer Symposium 2016
  • Place of Presentation: 札幌
  • Year and Date: 2016-06-24
• [Presentation] Ablation of critical driver oncogenic signals induces epigenetic plasticity and genetic diversity of cancer cell (2016)
  • Author(s): Katsunori Semi
  • Organizer: The 31st NAITO CONFERENCE
  • Place of Presentation: 札幌
  • Year and Date: 2016-06-05