Epigenetic analysis for emergence of mammalian circadian rhythms

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06770
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 44050:Animal physiological chemistry, physiology and behavioral biology-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Koike Nobuya 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 講師 (00399685)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 概日リズム / 概日時計 / クロマチンアクセシビリティ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In mammals, the emergence of circadian rhythm is strictly suppressed during early developmental stages as well as in pluripotent stem cells. In this study, we analyzed the chromatin accessibilities of mouse ES cells during in vitro differentiation. We found that the early expression of functional CLOCK, which is post-transcriptionally repressed in the early developmental stages, interferes with stage-specific chromatin remodeling. These findings suggest the importance of the late emergence of circadian clock during ontogenesis in mammals.

Free Research Field

時間生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

哺乳類では全身のほとんどの細胞で概日リズムが観察されるが、ES細胞や胎生10日目までのマウス胎仔では概日リズムが形成されておらず、細胞分化の進行によって時計遺伝子の発現概日リズムが細胞自律的に出現する。本研究の結果は、発生過程で細胞分化が進むまでリズムを刻まないよう厳密に制御されていることの重要性を支持するものである。