Basic and Applied Studies on Regulation of Gene Expression by Small DNAs

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26650004
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Molecular biology
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: BABA Tadashi 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 教授 (40165056)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 低分子核酸 / ＤＮＡ・ｍＲＮＡハイブリッド / 遺伝子サイレンシング / ｍＲＮＡ分解 / 翻訳抑制 / 転写後調節

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to explore whether a small DNA is present in somatic cells, and functions in gene silencing. Total cellular RNA was prepared from various mouse tissues, including the testis and liver, annealed to oligo(dT), and treated with commercial RNase H. The protein-coding region of mRNA encoding actin, in addition to the mRNA poly(A) tail, was digested by RNase H in a dose-dependent manner. The susceptibility of actin and acrosin mRNAs to the RNase H treatment was greater than those of TRF2, TFIIAgamma, and ACT mRNAs. Although small DNA with an approximate size of 10 nucleotides was found in liver total RNA, we have been unable to determine the sequence of the DNA yet.

Free Research Field

生物学