Research for the molecular mechanism of developmental control aimed at improving the developmental potential of livestock embryos

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H03135
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42030:Animal life science-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Naito Kunihiko 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 教授 (20188858)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 家畜胚 / Cyclin A / MPF / Cyclin B / BORA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Focusing on the regulatory mechanism of M-phase promoting factor (MPF) activation during the cleavage of mammalian embryos, the possibility of functioning the cascade that originated in Cyclin A followed by BORA and PLK1, which was recently reported in Xenopus embryos, was analyzed at the start of first cleavage of porcine embryos and at the start of meiosis of porcine oocytes for comparison.
Dynamic analysis of each factor suggested the existence of this cascade at both initiations. However, it was shown that this pathway did not work physiologically in the former. On the other hand, in the latter case, it was suggested that this cascade may be functioning, while at the same time suggested that Cyclin A may act directly as MPF in place of Cyclin B in pig embryos.

Free Research Field

生殖遺伝学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで十分に解明されていない哺乳類胚の卵割の制御機構の一端を、ブタ初期胚の第一卵割における分裂誘導因子のMPFの活性化機構に焦点を当て解析し、その結果、減数分裂では機能していないCyclin Aの合成を起点としてBORA、PLK1へと続く新たなカスケードの関与が示唆された。また、従来、卵母細胞や体細胞でMPFと考えられてきたCDK1/Cyclin B複合体が、ブタ初期胚では重要な役割を持たない可能性が示唆された。これは学術的には全く新しい視点であり大きな意義がある。今後の研究にこの視点を持つことで、哺乳類初期胚の体外発生率向上につながる可能性もあり、社会的にも意義あるものと考える。