MECHANISMS UNDERLYING THE DEEP BRAIN PHOTORECEPTION AND SEASONAL TIME MEASUREMENT IN VERTEBRATES

• Project/Area Number: 19678002
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (S)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Basic veterinary science/Basic zootechnical science
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: YOSHIMURA Takashi Nagoya University, 生命農学研究科, 教授 (40291413)
• Project Period (FY): 2007 – 2011
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2011)
• Budget Amount: ¥115,180,000 (Direct Cost: ¥88,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥26,580,000); Fiscal Year 2011: ¥24,570,000 (Direct Cost: ¥18,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥5,670,000); Fiscal Year 2010: ¥24,570,000 (Direct Cost: ¥18,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥5,670,000); Fiscal Year 2009: ¥24,570,000 (Direct Cost: ¥18,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥5,670,000); Fiscal Year 2008: ¥23,270,000 (Direct Cost: ¥17,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥5,370,000); Fiscal Year 2007: ¥18,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥14,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥4,200,000)
• Keywords: 光周性 / 脳深部光受容器 / ウズラ / 生理 / 行動 / 概日時計 / 時計遺伝子 / 甲状腺刺激ホルモン / 下垂体隆起葉 / メラトニン / マウス / 視床下部内側基底部 / 2型脱ヨウ素酵素(DIO2) / 甲状腺ホルモン

Research Abstract

動物は四季の環境の変化により良く適応するために、日長の変化を読み取り、様々な生理機能を調節している。このメカニズムの解明は生物学に残された大きな謎の一つであるとともに、家畜、家禽、魚類等の生産性の向上にも直結していることから、応用研究としても大きな波及効果をもたらすことが期待されている。ウズラとマウスを使ったこれまでの研究において、日長の情報が下垂体隆起葉において合成される甲状腺刺激ホルモン(TSH)を介して視床下部に伝達されることを明らかにしている。本年度はウズラが脳内で光を受容してから下垂体隆起葉においてTSHが誘導されるメカニズムの解明を目指した。
哺乳類以外の脊椎動物は脳内に存在する脳深部光受容器によって日長の変化を感知することが古くから知られていたが、脳深部光受容器の実体は謎に包まれていた。そこで、本研究では視物質(ロドプシン類)の網羅的な発現解析を行った結果、ウズラの脳深部に発現する新規な視物質「オプシン5」を同定することに成功した。オプシン5の局在を詳細に検討した結果、発生過程の視細胞と類似した形態を持つ髄液接触ニューロンに発現し、「春ホルモン」TSHを産生する下垂体隆起葉に投射していることが明らかになった。さらにアフリカツメガエル卵母細胞を用いてオプシン5の機能解析を行った結果、オプシン5は紫色光に最も高い感受性を示し、紫外線から青色光までの短波長光に反応し、精巣の発達を促す脳深部光受容器であることが明らかになった。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] A mammalian neural tissue opsin (Opsin 5) is a deep brain photoreceptor in birds. (2010)
  • Author(s): Nakane Y, et al.
  • Journal Title: Proc.Natl Acad.Sci.USA Volume: 107 Pages: 15264-15268
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Deep brain photoreceptors and a seasonal signal transduction cascade in birds. (2010)
  • Author(s): Nakane Y, Yoshimura T.
  • Journal Title: Cell Tissue Res. Volume: 342 Pages: 341-344
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Neuroendocrine mechanism of seasonal reproduction in birds and mammals. (2010)
  • Author(s): Yoshimura T.
  • Journal Title: Anim.Sci.J. Volume: 81 Pages: 403-410
  • NAID: 10027888904
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Influence of the estrous cycle on clock gene expression in reproductive tissues : Effects of fluctuating ovarian steroid hormone levels. (2010)
  • Author(s): Nakamura TJ, et al.
  • Journal Title: Steroids Volume: 75 Pages: 203-212
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Zona pellucida protein ZP2 is expressed in the oocyte of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) (2010)
  • Author(s): Kinoshita M, et al.
  • Journal Title: Reproduction Volume: 139 Pages: 359-371
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Localization of circadian clock protein BMAL1 in the photoperiodic signal transduction machinery (2009)
  • Author(s): Ikegami K, Katou Y, Higashi K, Yoshimura T.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Comparative Neurology 517 Pages: 397-404
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Melatonin transmits photoperiodic signals through the MT1 melatonin receptor (2009)
  • Author(s): Yasuo S, Yoshimura T, Ebihara S, Korf HW.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Neuroscience 29 Pages: 2885-2889
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Localization of circadian clock protein BMAL1 in the photoperiodic signal transduction machinery (2009)
  • Author(s): Ikegami, et al.,
  • Journal Title: Journal of Comparative Neurology 517 Pages: 397-404
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Photoperiodic control of TSH-β expression in the mammalian pars tuberalis has different impact on the induction and suppression of the hypothalamo-hypophysial gonadal axis. (2009)
  • Author(s): Yasuo, et al.,
  • Journal Title: Journal of Neuroendocrinology 22 Pages: 43-50
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Identification of the photoperiodic signaling pathway regulating seasonal reproduction using the functional genomics approach. (2009)
  • Author(s): Ono, et al.,
  • Journal Title: General and Comparative Endocrinology 163 Pages: 2-6
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Melatonin transmits photoperiodic signals through the MT1 melatonin receptor (2009)
  • Author(s): Yasuo, et al.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Neuroscience 29 Pages: 2885-2889
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Involvement of thyrotropin in photoperiodic signal transduction in mice (2008)
  • Author(s): Ono H, Hoshino Y, Yasuo S, Watanabe M, Nakane Y, Murai A, Ebihara S, Korf HW, Yoshimura T.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of National Academy of Science of the U.S.A. 105 Pages: 18238-18242
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Thyrotrophin in the pars tuberalis triggers photoperiodic response (2008)
  • Author(s): Nakao N, Ono H, Yamamura T, Anraku T, Takagi T, Higashi K, Yasuo S, Katou Y, Kageyama S, Uno Y, Kasukawa T, Iigo M, Sharp PJ, Iwasawa A, Suzuki Y, Sugano S, Niimi T, Mizutani M, Namikawa T, Ebihara S, Ueda HR, Yoshimura T.
  • Journal Title: Nature 452 Pages: 317-322
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Involvement of thyrotropin in the photoperiodic signal transduction in mice (2008)
  • Author(s): Ono, et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of National Academy of Science of the United States of America 105 Pages: 18238-18242
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Thyroid hormones and seasonal reproductive neuroendocr ineinteractions (2008)
  • Author(s): Nakao N, Ono H, Yoshimura T.
  • Journal Title: Reproduction 136 Pages: 1-8
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Thyrotrophin in the pars tuberalis triggers photoperiodic response (2008)
  • Author(s): Nakao, et. al.
  • Journal Title: Nature 452 Pages: 317-322
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] 比較生物学から明らかになった動物が春を感じる仕組み (2010)
  • Author(s): 吉村崇
  • Organizer: 第11回日本比較三学会合同シンポジウム
  • Place of Presentation: グランシップ(静岡)
  • Year and Date: 2010-11-20
• [Presentation] Non-mammalian models in thyroid research : Japanese quail (2010)
  • Author(s): Yoshimura T.
  • Organizer: 14^<th> International Thyroid Congress
  • Place of Presentation: パリ国際会議場(パリ)
  • Year and Date: 2010-09-12
• [Presentation] Functional genomics analysis of photoperiodic response. (2010)
  • Author(s): Yoshimura T.
  • Organizer: 25th International Ornithological Congress
  • Place of Presentation: カンポドジョルダン(ブラジル)
  • Year and Date: 2010-08-28
• [Presentation] Molecular mechanism of seasonal reproduction in birds and mammals. (2010)
  • Author(s): Yoshimura T.
  • Organizer: The 3^<rd> Special Biomodulation Symposium
  • Place of Presentation: ソウル大学(韓国)
  • Year and Date: 2010-05-14
• [Presentation] 概日リズム、季節繁殖に及ぼす光環境と遺伝要因の影響 (2010)
  • Author(s): 吉村崇
  • Organizer: 第57回日本実験動物学会総会
  • Place of Presentation: 京都テルサ(京都)
  • Year and Date: 2010-05-12
• [Presentation] Molecular and endocrine mechanism of seasonal reproduction in birds and mammals (2010)
  • Author(s): Yoshimura T.
  • Organizer: Society for Endocrinology BES 2010
  • Place of Presentation: Manchester
  • Year and Date: 2010-03-17
• [Presentation] Molecular and endocrine mechanism of seasonal reproduction in birds and mammals (2010)
  • Author(s): Yoshimura T
  • Organizer: Society for Endocrinology BES 2010
  • Place of Presentation: Manchester, UK
  • Year and Date: 2010-03-17
• [Presentation] Molecular and endocrine mechanisms of vertebrate photoperiodic response. (2009)
  • Author(s): Yoshimura T.
  • Organizer: Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology 2009 Annual Meeting
  • Place of Presentation: Boston, MA, USA
  • Year and Date: 2009-01-06
• [Presentation] Functional genomics analysis of photoperiodic time measurement (2008)
  • Author(s): Yoshimura T.
  • Organizer: 9^<th> International Symposium on Avian Endocrinology
  • Place of Presentation: Leuven, Belgium
  • Year and Date: 2008-07-12
• [Presentation] 脊椎動物の光周性の機能ゲノム学的解析 (2007)
  • Author(s): 吉村崇
  • Organizer: 第30回日本分子生物学会年会第80回日本生化学会大会合同大会
  • Place of Presentation: 横浜
  • Year and Date: 2007-12-11
• [Book] めぐる(中村桂子編) (2010)
  • Author(s): 吉村崇
  • Total Pages: 297
  • Publisher: 新曜社
• [Book] からだと光の事典(太陽紫外線防御研究委員会編) (2010)
  • Author(s): 高井直樹、吉村崇
  • Total Pages: 421
  • Publisher: 朝倉書店
• [Book] Genetic and molecular mechanisms controlling the avian photoperiodic response Photoperiodism : The Biological Calendar(Nelson RJ, Denlinger DL, Somers DE eds.) (2009)
  • Author(s): Yoshimura T, Sharp PJ.
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press
• [Book] Photoperiodism : The Biological Calendar(Nelson RJ, Denlinger DL, Somers DE eds.) (2009)
  • Author(s): Yoshimura T, Sharp PJ
  • Total Pages: 581
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press
• [Remarks]
  • URL: http://www.nagoya-u.ac.jp/pdf/research/news/20100803_agr.pdf?20100803
• [Remarks]
  • URL: http://www.nagoya-u.ac.jp/pdf/research/news/20081118_agr.pdf?20090406
• [Remarks]
  • URL: http://www.nagoya-u.ac.jp/info/research_news/080321_agr.pdf
• [Remarks]
  • URL: http://www.agr.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~aphysiol/