Study on the mechanisms of photoperiodic time measurement regulating seasonal reproduction in vertebrates

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K07163
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Genetics/Chromosome dynamics
• Research Institution: National Institute for Basic Biology
• Principal Investigator: Otake Ai (四宮愛) 基礎生物学研究所, 季節生物学研究部門, 特任助教 (60452067)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-10-21 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 光周性 / 季節繁殖 / メダカ / 卵巣 / 地理的変異

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In seasonal reproduction, day length (photoperiod) is a cue to breed in the specific season for many animals, however, the molecular mechanisms of photoperiodic time measurement have not been clarified. Medaka, a small freshwater teleost, is a long-day breeder. We examined the response to changes of day lengths using various medaka populations collected from all over Japan, and found geographical variations in (1) a critical day length to induce reproduction and (2) response to short-day that induce reproductive quiescence. The present study aimed to identify the genes involved in the photoperiodic time measurement using these geographical variations. We conducted forward genetic approaches, and detected chromosomal regions involved in the response to day length.

Free Research Field

動物分子遺伝学