The role of zinc finger protein 521 in hematopoiesis and neural differentiation.

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25870486
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Hematology; Developmental biology
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: Matsubara Etsuko 愛媛大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 講師 (70571082)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: Zfp521 / ノックアウトマウス / 幹細胞 / 分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We generated mice lacking of the Zfp521 gene. The birth ratio of Zfp521△/△ mice was consistent with Mendel’s laws. Zfp521△/△ mice displayed significant weight reduction as they grew. Especially, the thymus and spleen of Zfp521△/△ mice were more than 40% lighter than those of the controls. Zfp521△/△ mice displayed abnormal behavior, such as hyper-locomotion, lower anxiety and impaired learning. The border of the granular cell layer of the dentate gyrus of Zfp521△/△ mice was indistinct and granular neurons were reduced in number. Sox1-positive neural progenitor cells in the dentate gyrus and cerebellum were significantly reduced in number. These findings suggest that Zfp521 affects the formation of the neuronal cell layers of the dentate gyrus, and Zfp521△/△ mice displayed schizophrenia-relevant symptoms.

Free Research Field

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