3D architecture of mitotic chromosomes

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Chromosome Orchestration System
• Project/Area Number: 15H05971
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Hirano Tatsuya 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 開拓研究本部, 主任研究員 (50212171)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 大杉 美穂 東京大学, 大学院総合文化研究科, 教授 (00332586)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-06-29 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 染色体構築 / 細胞周期 / コンデンシン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We established a novel in-vitro system for studying mitotic chromosome assembly, in which mouse sperm nuclei were incubated with frog egg extracts. By taking full advantage of this unique system, it was discovered that mitotic chromosome-like structures can be constructed, in a manner dependent of condensins I and II, even under the condition where nucleosome assembly in completely blocked. Moreover, we uncovered a molecular mechanism that helps delay pronuclei formation in mouse eggs after fertilization.

Free Research Field

分子細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

「ヌクレオソームを持たない分裂期染色体」の構築は、従来の教科書を書き換える画期的な発見として世界的に大きな評価を得た。この発見を可能にした新規実験系の確立にも大きな意義がある。