in vivo RNA Imaging Toward Mapping the Dynamics of Gene Expression in the Plastic Brain

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26702038
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Basic / Social brain science
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Wang Dan Ohtan 京都大学, 高等研究院, 特定拠点准教授 (50615482)
• Research Collaborator: OOMOTO Ikumi ; MATSUO Naoki ; OKAMOTO Akimitsu
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: RNA imaging / synapse / neurodevelopment

Outline of Final Research Achievements

With this support, we aimed to study the dynamics of RNA and their regulation as the molecular basis of long-term memory. By introducing a hybridization-sensitive fluorescent probe into intact animals and taking measurement which was previously impossible, we succeeded in visualizing RNA molecules at the level of single cells in vivo and to measure simultaneous changes in hundreds of cells (NAR, 2015). Furthermore, we discovered a novel mechanism of neuronal transcription factors that is not only required for gene activation but for suppressing the function of cognate microRNA. As the result, this mechanism prevents the functionally related gene products from being degraded (Front Mol. Neurosci, 2017). Finally, we defined a new layer of post-transcriptional regulation at neuronal synapses that are enriched in neurodevelopment and neuropsychiatric pathways (Nat Neurosci, in press) .

Free Research Field

neurosicence