Molecular Basis underlying morphogen gradient-mediated tissue homeostatic regulation

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H03412
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 48040:Medical biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: ISHITANI Tohru 大阪大学, 微生物病研究所, 教授 (40448428)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: モルフォゲン勾配

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Morphogen gradient is a system which provides the positional information to each cells in developing and regenerating tissues and plays important roles in development and homeostasis. In this study, we show that Wnt morphogen gradient support precise morphogenesis by sensing and eliminating Wnt signaling abnormal cells in early embryos. We also show that Shh morphogen gradient support nervous system development by sensing and eliminating Shh signaling abnormal cells in neural tube. Thus, we succeeded to clarify the morphogen gradient-mediated tissue homeostatic regulation and its molecular basis.

Free Research Field

発生細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

動物の体を生み出すシステムとして古くから知られていたモルフォゲン勾配が、組織に生じた異常細胞を感知・排除する生体防御機構としても働くことを明らかにした。発生生物学のみならず基礎医学に新たな理解を切り拓く斬新な研究成果と言える。