2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Sex-reversal of germ cells in response to environments
| Project/Area Number |
16K18557
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Research Field |
Developmental biology
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| Research Institution | Nagoya University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
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| Keywords | 生殖細胞 |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
The applicant identified foxl3 as a sperm-egg switch gene in medaka. FOXL3 is expressed in female germ cells, and foxl3 loss-of-function (foxl3-/-) females initiate spermatogenesis in ovaries. However, foxl3-/- females also produce eggs by unknown mechanism. In this study, the applicant examined the downstream targets of foxl3 to understand how egg fate decision occurs, and asked whether foxl3 and figla, which is required for follicle formation, could be determinants of eggs. Genes related to chromosomal dynamics were found in targets of foxl3. Among then, a novel ubiquitin ligase likely regulated female-specific mitosis in germ cells. The applicant also generated transgenic medaka in which foxl3/figla genes could be induced in germ cells of testes using Cre/loxP system. In the future, production of eggs in testes will be examined using the transgenic medaka.
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| Free Research Field |
生殖生物学
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