Exploring the biological role of pre-tRNA capping in gene expression

Research Project

Project/Area Number	17H04997
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Molecular biology
Research Institution	The University of Tokyo
Principal Investigator	Ohira Takayuki 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科(工学部), 助教 (90727520)
Project Period (FY)	2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
Budget Amount *help	¥26,130,000 (Direct Cost: ¥20,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥6,030,000) Fiscal Year 2020: ¥5,850,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,350,000) Fiscal Year 2019: ¥5,590,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,290,000) Fiscal Year 2018: ¥4,550,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,050,000) Fiscal Year 2017: ¥10,140,000 (Direct Cost: ¥7,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,340,000)
Keywords	tRNA / 5' cap修飾 / 遺伝子発現制御 / 出芽酵母 / RNA / 成熟化 / 5' cap / 転写後修飾 / 5'cap修飾 / RNA修飾 / 真核生物 / pre-tRNA
Outline of Final Research Achievements	This study is aimed to reveal molecular mechanism and biological significance of 5’capping of tRNA precursor (pre-tRNA). We revealed that formation of pre-tRNA capping depended on the sequence of pre-tRNA itself and was promoted under stress condition, suggesting that the formation is controlled by a complex regulatory mechanism. Moreover, we identified a chemical structure and modifying enzyme responsible for novel cap structure.
Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements	本研究において、私たちはpre-tRNAの5’cap修飾の生合成機構や機能に関する多くの知見を見出した。これら成果は全く新しい5’cap修飾の機能や生合成機構の存在を示すなど5’cap修飾の理解を広げ深めるとともにより包括的な視点からRNA全体の動態や機能発現を理解することの重要性を示した。さらには全く新しい遺伝子発現制御機構が存在する可能性を示唆するなど当該分野の発展に貢献することが期待される学術的に意義のある知見を提供した。