Search for a novel ATP production control associated with animal regeneration

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H03236
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 44020:Developmental biology-related
• Research Institution: University of Hyogo
• Principal Investigator: Umesono Yoshihiko 兵庫県立大学, 理学研究科, 教授 (20391881)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 再生 / エネルギー代謝 / プラナリア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It has been widely accepted that the production of ATP, which is an energy currency, plays a crucial role in regenerating damaged tissues and organs after injury, but it is still unclear how much the efficiency of ATP production in response to wounding contributes to regeneration. Planarians exhibit extraoridinaliry robust and high regenerative ability by activating pluripotent stem cells even under starvation. In this study, our findings suggest that gene regulatory networks in a regeneration-specific manner promote oxidative phosphorylation in the inner mitochondrial membrane, resulting in the efficient production of ATP that is essential for stem cell proliferation and differentiation.

Free Research Field

発生生物学、再生生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、再生能力とATP産生に着目した新規研究課題であり、今後更なる発展の可能性を秘めている。また、本研究の発想から、創傷組織のATP産生効率を人為的に高めるようなサプリメントを企業と協同研究により開発できるかもしれない。これにより、手術を伴いながら長期治療を余儀なくされる疾病の早期治癒に貢献できるかもしれない。