2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Functional roles of initiator methionine tRNA
Project/Area Number |
17K07746
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Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
Section | 一般 |
Research Field |
Applied biochemistry
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Research Institution | Tokyo Women's Medical University (2018-2020) University of Tsukuba (2017) |
Principal Investigator |
Hirota Keiko 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (00375370)
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Project Period (FY) |
2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
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Keywords | 線虫 / 分子遺伝学 / tRNA |
Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Genetic information is transcribed into mRNA and translated into protein on ribosomes, and finally, its function is exerted. In recent years, it has been reported that knockdown of translation-initiating proteins exhibits longevity, implying a correlation between the decrease in translation efficiency and lifespan extension. Translation initiation requires association of the initiator methionine tRNA with the 40S ribosome containing the translation initiation proteins. This study revealed that the initiator methionine tRNA is methylated in Caenorhabditis elegans and clarified its physiological function.
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Free Research Field |
分子生物学、分子遺伝学
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Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
DNAに書き込まれた遺伝情報は、mRNAに転写され、その後、リボソーム上でtRNAと協働してタンパク質に翻訳されて、その機能が発揮される。開始メチオニンtRNAは、翻訳の開始に必須であり、その機能を解明することは、遺伝情報の発現を介して、様々な生理現象に繋がる可能性がある。本研究において、開始メチオニンtRNAがメチル化修飾を受けることを見出し、その生理機能の一端を明らかにすることができた。今後、遺伝子発現制御に有用な情報となると期待される。
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