Mechanism of initiation of embryonic developmental programs by maternal pioneer transcription factor Gata.

• Project/Area Number: 18H02376
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 43010:Molecular biology-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Imai Kaoru 大阪大学, 大学院理学研究科, 准教授 (00447921)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2023)
• Budget Amount: ¥17,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,960,000); Fiscal Year 2022: ¥3,380,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥780,000); Fiscal Year 2021: ¥3,380,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥780,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥3,380,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥780,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥3,380,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥780,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥3,640,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥840,000)
• Keywords: 転写制御

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The ascidian embryo is a unique experimental system because the expression patterns of the earliest genes are precisely known. The goal of this study is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the transition from maternal factors to embryonic genomic controls. In this study, I have shown that Gata is involved in the initiation of transcription from the embryonic genome as a maternal pioneer transcription factor. Furthermore, this study indicate that two maternal transcription factors other than Gata may be required for initiation of transcription from the embryonic genome.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

母性因子によってどのように胚性プログラムが開始されるかという問題については、胚性ゲノムから初期に発現する遺伝子が、どの細胞で、いつ発現するのか、ということが正確にわかっているという点でホヤ胚は優れた実験系となっている。本研究に三つの母性因子と最初の遺伝子発現を結び付けることができた。ホヤは脊椎動物と同じ門に属する動物であり、ホヤの研究成果は脊椎動物の理解に貢献できる。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Gene regulatory networks in ascidian embryos. (2023)
  • Author(s): Imai KS
  • Journal Title: Genesis. Volume: (6):e23570 Issue: 6
  • DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23570
• [Journal Article] Gata is ubiquitously required for the earliest zygotic gene transcription in the ascidian embryo (2020)
  • Author(s): Imai Kaoru S.、Kobayashi Kenji、Kari Willi、Rothbacher Ute、Ookubo Naoki、Oda-Ishii Izumi、Satou Yutaka
  • Journal Title: Developmental Biology Volume: 458 Issue: 2 Pages: 215-227
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.11.009
  • NAID: 120006784422
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] GATA IS REQUIRED FOR THE EARLIEST ZYGOTIC GENE TRANSCRIPTION IN THE ASCIDIAN EMBRYO (2019)
  • Author(s): Kaoru S. Imai, Kenji Kobayashi, Naoki Ookubo, Izumi Oda-Ishii and Yutaka Satou
  • Organizer: International Tunicate meeting
  • Int'l Joint Research