Establishment of RNA neo-taxonomy based on ncRNA cellular localizations

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Neo-taxonomy of noncoding RNAs
• Project/Area Number: 26113004
• 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: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Siomi Mikiko 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 教授 (20322745)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 大野 睦人 京都大学, ウイルス・再生医科学研究所, 教授 (80201979)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-07-10 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: ncRNA / 細胞内局在

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The Siomi group has investigated to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of (1) piRNA precursor selection, (2) Yb body formation, and (3) nuclear localization of the Piwi-piRNA complex. For this, the Siomi group has used cultured ovarian somatic cells in which the Piwi-piRNA complex is fully functional in transposon silencing. The Siomi group published several papers in this 5-year project. The Ohno group has investigated to understand the mechanism underlying the nuclear retention of nuclearly located lncRNAs, particularly of Neat1 RNA, and came to the point to propose the model for the event. Currently, the Ohno group is preparing the manuscript.

Free Research Field

機能生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

piRNAはトランスポゾンの抑制を介して生殖ゲノムの品質を管理する。piRNAの機能異常はトランスポゾンの脱抑制やゲノム損傷を引き起こし、卵・精子形成の異常や不稔を導く。よってpiRNA機構は有性生殖を伴う生物にとって不可欠な分子機構であり、この仕組みを理解することは学術的、社会的観点から非常に意義高い。これまで生体内で起こる様々な現象はタンパク質をコードする遺伝子の機能によって担われていると考えられていたが、それでは説明がつかないことが多々ありlncRNA研究の重要性が浮上した。lncRNAの機能を正確に知る上でlncRNA核内保持機構の作用機序解明は非常に意義高いと言える。