Biogeneis and function of germ cell specific small RNA

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24249018
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General medical chemistry
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Nakano Toru 大阪大学, 生命機能研究科, 教授 (00172370)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 非コードRNA / 遺伝子発現 / DNA メチル化 / 生殖細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

piRNAs are germ cell specific non-coding small RNAs, which play crucial roles on gene silencing of retrotransposons in embryonic male germ cells. We carried out the analyses on the molecular mechanisms of piRNA biogenesis and the functional properties of the piRNAs, and obtained the following results. First, GPAT2 (glycerol-3-phosophate acyltransferase 2), a mitochondria outer-membrane protein with the enzymatic activity of lipid metabolism, was essential for the production of piRNAs. Second, piRNA other than retrotransposon-related ones was successfully produced in transgenic mouse model. Third, the artificially introduced non-retrotransposon piRNAs gave rise to DNA methylation and subsequent gene silencing in the male germ cells. These results provide new insights in the characteristics of piRNAs.

Free Research Field

分子生物学