Studies on the fundamental molecular mechanisms regulating activation and inactivation of polar body

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25660263
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Insect science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: SUZUKI MASATAKA 東京大学, 新領域創成科学研究科, 准教授 (30360572)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 昆虫発生・生殖 / 卵 / 受精 / 極体形成 / カイコ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have found that fertilized eggs contain polar body-derived cells in serosa. This finding suggests that polar body remains active and has ability to participate in embryonic development. To examine whether the polar body-derived cells can develop into embryo, we investigated the positions of serosa cells originated from polar body nuclei. As a result, 80% of polar body-derived cells were located around the area at which is not relevant to embryogenesis. PCR based analysis using a polar body specific-marker revealed that polar body-derived cells disappeared at later embryonic stage at which the serosa disappears. To further define the fate of polar body, the polar body-derived cells were visualized by DsRed gene. Analyses using confocal laser microscopy demonstrated that DsRed-positive cells were observed only in yolk cells. Taken together with these findings, the polar-body-derived cells can develop into extraembryonic cells but has no ability to develop into embryonic cells.

Free Research Field

農学