Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms by which a common regulator, the Hippo pathway, regulates ovarian and trophoblast differentiation.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09777
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Fukui Prefectural University
• Principal Investigator: Mizutani Tetsuya 福井県立大学, 看護福祉学部, 教授 (90322734)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 絨毛細胞 / 顆粒膜細胞 / YAP / TAZ / TEAD

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Hippo pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway that controls organ size by phosphorylating and inhibiting the transcription co-activators YAP/TAZ in mammals. To elucidate the role of YAP/TAZ and a transcription factor TEAD, which directly bind with YAP/TAZ, in ovarian granulosa cells and placental trophoblast cells, the gain-of-function and the loss-of-function analyses were performed. We showed that YAP/TAZ-TEAD ss involved in the regulation of both granulosa and trophoblast differentiation. Furthermore, YAP/TAZ-TEAD is a common regulator of steroidogenesis in both ovary and placenta.

Free Research Field

生殖科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

YAP/TAZ-TEADによる卵巣と胎盤の新たな分化制御メカニズムが示された。
YAP/TAZ-TEADが卵巣と胎盤のステロイドホルモン産生を調節する共通因子であることが明らかとなった。
卵巣と胎盤機能を調節する新たな因子が同定されたことから、不妊症や周産期疾患に対する新たな治療薬や診断に応用されることが期待できる。