Contribution of higher-order structure transition of giant DNA on gene expression efficiency

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K05615
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biological physics/Chemical physics/Soft matter physics
• Research Institution: Doshisha University
• Principal Investigator: KENMOTSU Takahiro 同志社大学, 生命医科学部, 教授 (10389009)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 長鎖DNA / 遺伝子発現活性 / 高次構造転移 / DNA一分子観察 / 蛍光顕微鏡 / ポリアミン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I have studied a contribution for gene expression efficiency by higher-order structure transition of giant DNA. I have found that an enhancement of gene expression efficiency result in a conformation of giant DNA just before globule state. This mean that the enhancement is due to the parallel ordering of DNA segments. Meanwhile, an inhibition on gene expression is caused by the compaction of DNA into a tightly packed state. Based on experimental and theoretical results, I have revealed that higher-order transition of giant DNA work as a switch on gene expression efficiency, enhancement and inhibition.

Free Research Field

生命物理

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで、長鎖DNAの高次構造転移が遺伝子発現活性にどのように寄与しているのかについては明らかにされいなかったが、本研究によって、DNA高次構造転移が遺伝子発現活性のON/OFFスイッチング機構として働くことを明らかにした。本研究で明らかとなった知見は、がんの発生メカニズムなど、生命科学および医学の基礎的な知見となることが期待される。