Functional analysis of epigenetic factors that inhibit cellular senescence

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K15068
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General medical chemistry
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: Nakao Mitsuyoshi 熊本大学, 発生医学研究所, 教授 (00217663)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞老化 / エピゲノム / 遺伝子 / 代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Gene regulation and epigenomic conversion are involved in the program of cellular senescence, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated the key processes of cellular senescence, using specific siRNAs libraries against nuclear and chromatin factors, and found that 1) retinoblastoma protein promotes oxidative phosphorylation through up-regulation of glycolytic genes in oncogene-induced senescent cells; 2) the SETD8/PR-Set7 methyltransferase functions as a barrier to prevent senescence-associated metabolic remodeling.

Free Research Field

エピジェネティクス