Establishment of a novel mutant mouse strain showing age-related pigmentation and epigenetic changes in the age-related pigmentation

• Project/Area Number: 24650233
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Laboratory animal science
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: ISHIKAWA Akira 名古屋大学, 生命農学研究科, 准教授 (20211724)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
• Keywords: 遺伝学 / 遺伝子 / マウス / エピジェネティクス / エピジェネティックス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

During development of a mixed strain carrying the Oca2p-cas (oculocutaneous albinism II; pink-eyed dilution castaneus) gene discovered from Indonesian wild mice, a novel spontaneous mutant showing age-related pigmentation was found. A line fixed for this mutant phenotype was established by selective breeding of the mutant phenotype. mRNA-sequencing analysis indicated no remarkable differences in expression levels of genes related to melanin synthesis between mutant and control mice. Whole-genome DNA methylation analysis identified two autosomes with high and low methylated regions. In vitro serum-free epidermal cell culture supplemented with L-tyrosine greatly induced the differentiation of melanocytes in mutant mice compared with controls.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Development of a novel pink-eyed dilution mouse model showing progressive darkening of the eyes and coat hair with aging (2015)
  • Author(s): Ishikawa, A., Sugiyama, M., Hondo, E., Kinoshita, K., Yamagishi, Y.
  • Journal Title: Exp. Anim. Volume: 64 Pages: 207-220
  • NAID: 130005069866
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] 新奇被毛色突然変異マウスにおける遺伝解析と全ゲノムDNAメチル化解析 (2014)
  • Author(s): 石川 明、山岸祐希
  • Organizer: 日本実験動物科学技術さっぽろ2014
  • Place of Presentation: 札幌コンベンションセンター
  • Year and Date: 2014-05-15 – 2014-05-17
• [Presentation] 発見、世界に類をみない毛色突然変異マウス (2013)
  • Author(s): 石川 明、杉山真言、本道栄一、木下圭司、山岸祐希
  • Organizer: 日本動物遺伝育種学会第14回大会
  • Place of Presentation: 東京海洋大品川キャンパス
• [Presentation] 加齢により眼と被毛色が変化する新奇自然発症突然変異マウスの発見 (2012)
  • Author(s): 山岸祐希、杉山真言、本道栄一、石川 明
  • Organizer: 日本実験動物科学・技術 九州2012
  • Place of Presentation: 別府国際コンベンションセンター
• [Presentation] 加齢変化を伴う新奇自然発症被毛色突然変異マウスの表現型の特徴と遺伝解析 (2012)
  • Author(s): 石川 明
  • Organizer: 第24回日本色素細胞学会学術大会
  • Place of Presentation: 長浜バイオ大学