Elucidation of the molecular mechanism of polyspermy block system in avian eggs and development of a long-term preservation method for avian egg

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06363
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42010:Animal production science-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Shusei Mizushima 北海道大学, 理学研究院, 助教 (20515382)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: ウズラ / 受精 / 卵賦活化 / ゲノム編集 / 卵の保存

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we focused on the analysis of molecular signaling related to egg activation (initiation of egg development) in Japanese quail, a polyspermy animal. We successfully identified three maternal Ca2+ receptors that mediate two Ca2+-increasing responses (transient and spiral-like oscillation) essential for quail egg activation and found that only transient Ca2+ signaling activates meiotic resumption signaling in the eggs. It was also found that egg‐derived deoxyribonucleases are not involved in the degradation of sperm nuclei that are not fused with female nucleus.

Free Research Field

鳥類生殖工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

1細胞期受精卵を材料とした哺乳類生命工学技術を鳥類へ外挿するという点で、鳥類に特異な多精受精シグナルングの解析は必要不可欠な研究課題である。特に「受精直後に起こる卵由来DNA分解酵素の消失」という発見は、ゲノム編集ウズラを作出する上で、重要な知見として働いた。また本課題では、これまでに成功例を見ていない「受精能を保持した未受精卵」の保存法の確立にも成功を収め、これらの応用は新規鳥類生命工学技術の発展・構築に貢献すると考えられる。