Analysis of gene co-option mechanisms involving epigenetic regulation

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K07082
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Developmental biology
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University (2017); Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology (2015-2016)
• Principal Investigator: OGINO Hajime 広島大学, 両生類研究センター, 教授 (10273856)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): WADA Shuichi 長浜バイオ大学, バイオサイエンス学部, 准教授 (20378607)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 発生 / 進化 / 感覚器プラコード / 神経堤 / エピジェネティック制御 / ツメガエル / ナメクジウオ / 遺伝子転用

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Jmjd3 is the histone H3 demethylase that was acquired in the vertebrate ancestor by an ancient genome duplication event. In this study, we attempted to reveal the evolutionary mechanisms of neural crest and sensory placode by studying gene regulatory networks activated by the Jmjd3. Our search for the downstream genes of Jmjd3 identified not only genes that are involved in neural crest and/or sensory placode formation (noggin, phox2, etc.) but also a variety of chromatin modifiers including the histone acetyltransferase, kat5. We also performed the enhancer analysis of Amphioxus hedgehog gene, which suggested that the vertebrate ortholog, Ihh, innovated the neural crest / branchial arch enhancer by modifying the ancestral pharyngeal endoderm enhancer during the evolution.

Free Research Field

発生生物学