Elucidation of the role of Nopp140, a regulator of rRNA biosynthesis, in skeletal formation

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09891
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57010:Oral biological science-related
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: Matsuura Keiko 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(歯学系), 特別研究員 (20770423)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Runx2 / Nopp140 / 軟骨細胞 / 増殖 / 分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Searching for Runx2 target genes in primary chondrocytes derived from Runx2-/- mice, we found that Runx2 up-regulated Nopp140 expression. In order to clarify the function of Nopp140 in chondrocytes, functional analysis was performed by generating chondrocyte-specific Nopp140 tg mice using the Co2a1 promoter, and it was thought that chondrocyte proliferation was reduced and hypertrophy was promoted. Therefore, in order to investigate the physiological functions of Nopp140, last year we succeeded in generating Nopp140 germline knockout mice and Nopp140 flox mice using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and we conducted phenotypic analysis.

Free Research Field

分子硬組織生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Nopp140は、骨・軟骨においては全く未知のタンパク質であり、その機能解明は独自性の極めて高い研究である。また、軟骨細胞・骨芽細胞の増殖・分化・アポトーシスの新たなシグナル経路の発見につながる独創性の高い研究である。