Regulation of gene expression through RNAi dependent heterochromatin formation and nuclear membrane

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25250022
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Genome biology
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Murakami Yota 北海道大学, 理学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (20260622)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KATO Hiroaki 島根大学, 医学部, 助教 (40548418)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): TAKAHATA Shinya 北海道大学, 大学院理学研究院, 助教 (50381588)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: クロマチン / エピジェネティクス / 核膜 / 環境応答 / 分裂酵母

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In eukaryotic cells, heterochromatin, which is important for the gene and chromosome regulation, localizes at nuclear periphery, but its mechanism and physiological functions are not understood. We previously found that RNAi factors，which negatively regulate gene expression, form factories for heterochromatin formation at nuclear periphery in fission yeast.
In this study, we found that RNAi factors contribute to the nuclear periphery localization of heterochromatin. In addition, analysis of nuclear membrane proteins revealed that Lem2 plays a role in the formation and the nuclear periphery localization independently on RNAi factors. Especially, Lem2 regulates heterochromatin in response to the growth condition. These findings are important for the understanding of epigenetic response to environmental changes.

Free Research Field

分子生物学