Comprehensive analysis of nucleic acid structures involved in modulation of gene expression across species

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Elucidation of the mechanism for dimensional response genome across species regulated by nucleic acid structures
• Project/Area Number: 21H05108
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Transformative Research Areas, Section (II)
• Research Institution: Konan University
• Principal Investigator: Endoh Tamaki 甲南大学, 先端生命工学研究所, 准教授 (90550236)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 凌 一葦 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 助教 (70804540)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-23 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 多元応答深化 / 核酸構造 / 環境応答 / バイオインフォマティクス / オミクス解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research project aimed to analyze nucleic acid structures involved in "Dimensional Response", which modulates gene expressions depending on various environmental factors. To demonstrate such nucleic acid structures maintained in living systems, this project performed genome wide and transcriptome wide analyses with biochemical and bioinformatic technologies. For the guanine quadruple (G4) structure, we extracted the G4-forming potential regions from the genomes of approximately 6,000 species and registered them in a newly constructed G4 database. In addition, we experimentally demonstrated that G4 structures can be formed in regions more than previously expected on the genome under molecular crowding environments. Experimental analyses also demonstrated that RNAs forming unique structures bind to specific proteins and can be involved in the regulation of protein functions and epigenetic chemical modifications of nucleic acids.

Free Research Field

生体分子機能工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

様々な生物種のゲノムを網羅的に解析し、遺伝子の発現調節に関与し得る核酸構造をデータベースとして蓄積した。G4構造については、既にデータベースの公開準備が整っている。さらに、分子環境に応答して特定の核酸構造を形成できる領域、タンパク質の機能調節に関与する核酸構造などをゲノムワイド、トランスクリプトームワイドに解析して明らかにした。本研究のように、生物種の分類枠組みを超えて核酸構造による遺伝子の発現調節機構の共通点や相違点を明らかにしていく試みはほとんどなく、得られる成果の学術的意義は大きい。また、核酸構造を変化させて遺伝子発現を制御する技術の開発といった社会的意義の高い研究への展開も期待される。