Microautophagy in the mouse early embryogenesis

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26291041
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cell biology
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Wada Yoh 大阪大学, 産業科学研究所, 准教授 (50212329)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: シグナル伝達 / 初期発生 / エンドサイトーシス / リソソーム / ミクロオートファジー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Rodent embryos at peri-gastrutation has a cylindrical structure where the epiblast is surrounded by a stratified epithelium (visceral endoderm: VE). The VE is highly active in endocytosis and develops large lysosomal compartments known as apical vacuoles. The membrane dynamics of apical vacuoles are distinct from those of canonical lysosomes: delivery of endosomes to the large apical vacuoles occurs via microautophagy, and this process requires the function of the small GTP-binding protein rab7.
The rab7-deficient embryos exhibit developmental defects at gastrulation. The mutant embryo failed to assemble the mesodermal tissues due to severe reduction of Wnt-β-catenin signalling activity. Deletion of the rab7 function only in VE resulted in developmental defects similar to those in the systemic gene knockout, suggesting that the rab7 function regulated the Wnt signalling through a non-cell autonomous mechanism.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学