Functional analysis of novel histone H3 variant H3mm7 in skeletal muscle differentiation

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K18457
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Genome biology
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: HARADA AKIHITO 九州大学, 生体防御医学研究所, 助教 (60596823)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: ヒストンバリアント / 骨格筋分化 / エピジェネティクス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The histone H3 variant H3.3 marks skeletal muscle specific genes in the undifferentiated state to provide selective gene expression during differentiation. Although some of the newly discovered histone variants have been shown to be highly expressed in skeletal muscle, their functions are still unknown. In this study, we performed functional analysis on one of these variants, H3mm7, in skeletal muscle. Using cultured cells, it was revealed that a rate change in gene expression occurs when H3mm7 is incorporated into the gene. In addition, the structure of the nucleosome containing H3mm7 was found to be less stable than the H3.3 nucleosome. These results together suggest that H3mm7 facilitates the expression of skeletal muscle genes by destabilizing nucleosomes at these genes to promote skeletal muscle differentiation.

Free Research Field

エピジェネティクス