Identification of genes involved in the expression of the cellular senescence marker p16INK4a

• Project/Area Number: 18K14648
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 43030:Functional biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Yamauchi Shota 東京大学, 大学院薬学系研究科(薬学部), 特任助教 (00728941)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000)
• Keywords: 細胞老化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Recent studies indicate that p16INK4a-positive senescent cells accumulate in the body over time and contribute to organismal aging. Oncogene activation and telomere erosion induce cellular senescence through the DNA damage response. In this study, genes involved in the expression of p16INK4a in response to DNA damage were identified by a genome-wide siRNA screen.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

個体老化の分子メカニズムの解明は、生物学の中心的課題のひとつであるとともに、健康寿命の延伸に寄与しうることから、超高齢社会を迎えた我が国においては、社会的意義が極めて大きい。本研究では、細胞老化の基本メカニズムの解明に向けて、細胞老化に必要な遺伝子を網羅的に同定した。