Identification of type-specific epigenetics in skeletal muscles

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23680065
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Sports science
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: KAWANO Fuminori 大阪大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (90346156)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: エピジェネティクス / ヒストン修飾 / 骨格筋 / 遅筋と速筋 / 筋活動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Genome-wide analysis using a ChIP-seq revealed that transcriptionally active histone marks, H3K4me3 and acetylation of H3, were less mapped at the genes activated specially in slow soleus, whereas the transcription of fast muscle-specific genes was associated with these active histone marks in fast plantaris in rats. We also found that the epigenome of plantaris was susceptible to the physiological and pharmacological stimuli, but that of soleus was resistive. For instance, silencing of muscle activity by denervation caused the displacement of acetylated histone and Pol II in 5' ends of genes in plantaris, but minor effects were seen in soleus. Increased recruitment of Pol II induced by forced acetylation of histone was also suppressed in valproic acid-treated soleus. These observations indicate that slow skeletal muscle has a unique characteristic in the histone modifications, which may relate to the preservation of the genetic backbone against physiological stimuli.

Free Research Field

骨格筋生理学