Elucidation of developmental mechanisms of the cerebral cortex focusing on axon guidance

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H04654
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Shinmyo Yohei 金沢大学, 医学系, 准教授 (00418831)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 河崎 洋志 金沢大学, 医学系, 教授 (50303904)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 軸索ガイダンス / Draxin / マウス / フェレット

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To understand molecular mechanisms of the neural circuit formation in the cerebral cortex, we investigated functions of an axon guidance molecule, Draxin. We found that in addition to the receptors Dcc and Neogenin, heparan sulfate proteoglycan was important for the activity of Draxin. Furthermore, for the purpose of elucidating molecular mechanisms of the neural circuit formation in the cerebral cortex of higher mammals, we established a gene knockout method by combining in utero electroporation with the CRISPR/Cas9 system in ferrets.

Free Research Field

神経発生生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は、大脳皮質の神経回路形成機構の解明のみならず、臨床脳医学にも大きく貢献できる。ヒト大脳皮質形成異常に見られるてんかんや発達遅滞の発症メカニズムには不明な点が多く、根本的な治療法は確立されていないのが現状である。本研究成果は、大脳皮質形成異常の病態機序解明および治療薬探索に繋がることが期待できる。