Regulatory mechanism of epigenome in oocyte and preimplantaion development

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Analyses and regulation of germline epigenome
• Project/Area Number: 25112008
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: TSUKADA Yuichi 九州大学, 稲盛フロンティア研究センター, 教授 (90444801)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): NAKAJIMA Yuiki 九州大学, 稲盛フロンティア研究センター, 特任助教 (50743126)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-06-28 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: エピゲノム / 初期胚 / リプログラミング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

During life cycle of multicellular organisms, different cells and tissues acquire different programs of gene expression. For most of cell types in the body, programs for gene expression become fixed once the cells differentiate. However, some cells in the body undergo “reprogramming” of gene expression in normal developmental situation. In particular, the ultimate reprogramming happens after fertilization by which differentiated-cell gametes acquire totipotency as undifferentiated totipotent cells. Epigenome plays a major role in the reprogramming. In this study, we identified regulatory factors for DNA and histone methylation in mouse preimplantation embryos and partly revealed roles of these epigenome in the reprogramming.

Free Research Field

生命科学