Investigating Mechanotransduction in Embryonic Palatal Development: Bioinformatics Insights and Experimental Validation Using Public Genome-Wide Association Studies and scRNA-seq Data

• Project/Area Number: 24K23623
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: 王 紫儀 岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 助教 (71000113)
• Project Period (FY): 2024-07-31 – 2026-03-31
• Project Status: Granted (Fiscal Year 2024)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,860,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥660,000); Fiscal Year 2025: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2024: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
• Keywords: Cleft Palate / scRNA-seq / Bioinformatics

Outline of Research at the Start

Despite advances in ultrasound diagnostics, the prevalence of orofacial clefts in Japan has not changed in 30 years due to unclear genetic factors. This project used bioinformatics analysis of GWAS and scRNA-seq data and found that parental exercise might reduce the risk of cleft palate in offspring via Flna/Cadm2-regulated mechanotransduction in palatal development. This involves transcription factors Cebpb, Cebpd, and Fosb. The project aims to verify and expand these findings.