Development of analytical method for DNA hydroxymethylcytosine and biological significance of hemi-modification of cytosine.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02154
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38060:Applied molecular and cellular biology-related
• Research Institution: University of Yamanashi
• Principal Investigator: Kohda Takashi 山梨大学, 大学院総合研究部, 教授 (60211893)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 志浦 寛相 山梨大学, 大学院総合研究部, 助教 (10451907)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ヒドロキシメチルシトシン / メチルシトシン / エピゲノム解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cytosine methylation modification is crucial for epigenetic regulation in mammals. In this study, we developed techniques to analyze cytosine modification states to elucidate the detailed regulatory mechanisms. We reviewed and enhanced the analytical method we previously developed, which can identify methylcytosine (mC), hydroxymethylcytosine (hmC), and non-modified cytosine (C) on the same DNA molecule simultaneously, improving its analytical accuracy and enabling the analysis of cytosine modifications in contexts other than CpG. Additionally, we aimed to extend the analytical method to analyze the modification state of cytosines on both DNA strands, whether they are mC, hmC, or C.

Free Research Field

Epigenetics

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究によって改良を行なったシトシン修飾の解析技術は、mC、hmC、Cをゲノムワイドに同時に解析できる手法であり、解析精度を向上させ、安定的に解析を可能とすることで、さまざまなエピゲノム解析に応用することで細胞の分化やがん化、mCの脱メチル化機構の解析などに適用が可能となるだけでなく、liquid biopsyなどでのがんの診断などの分野においても貢献することが期待される。