Molecular networks regulating mouse primordial germ cell development

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Mechanisms regulating gamete formation in animals
• Project/Area Number: 25114003
• 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: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Yasuhisa Matsui 東北大学, 加齢医学研究所, 教授 (40241575)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 酒井 則良 国立遺伝学研究所, 系統生物研究センター, 准教授 (50202081)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-06-28 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 多能性幹細胞 / 生殖細胞 / RNA干渉法 / プラナリア / ニワトリ / ゼブラフィッシュ / Max

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, we aimed to clarify gene networks regulating conversion between primordial germ cells (PGCs) and pluripotential stem cells (PSCs) and their possible evolutional conservation, and have reached five major conclusions. 1) Max cooperatively represses germ cell-specific genes with DNA methyltransferase (DNMTs) and histone H3K9 methyltransferase (SETDB1) in ES cells. 2) A RNA binding protein, DND1 represses conversion of PGCs into PSCs by maintaining the expression of H3K27 methyltransferase (Ezh2) via inhibiting a micro RNA. 3) PGCs and PSCs have distinct energy metabolic status. 4) A histone modifying enzyme gene identified by a siRNA screening is essential for PGC specification from epiblast via repressing somatic gene expression. 5) Max does not play a major role for repression of germ cell-specific genes in planarian, chick and zebrafish.

Free Research Field

発生生物学