Elucidation of the function of cold shock protein by the regulation of alternative splicing

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22651
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0702:Biology at cellular to organismal levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: Gifu University
• Principal Investigator: Horii Yuuki 岐阜大学, 糖鎖生命コア研究所, 助教 (20888531)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 冬眠 / 低温ショックタンパク質 / 選択的スプライシング / 低体温 / 休眠 / CIRP

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Hibernating mammals such as hamsters do not suffer from hypothermia despite being extremely hypothermic during hibernation. Previous studies have shown that alternative splicing of Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) exhibits characteristic changes during hibernation in the hibernating Syrian hamster. In this study, we clarified the expression kinetics of alternative splicing of CIRP in non-hibernating animals, and showed the possibility of applying the disorder tolerance of hibernating animals to non-hibernating animals.

Free Research Field

獣医生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究において、冬眠動物で見られるCold-inducible RNA-binding protein遺伝子の特徴的な発現調節が非冬眠動物においても再現できたことは、冬眠動物が保有している特性を非冬眠動物でも再現できる可能性を示唆している。選択的スプライシングの段階での調節が備わっていることは、転写調節よりも効率的な調節が可能であるため、医療応用可能な新しい発見へつながることが期待される。