Clarification of underlying factors involved in the establishment of sex differences

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Molecular mechanisms for establishment of sex differences.
• Project/Area Number: 22132004
• 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: Hamamatsu University School of Medicine (2011-2014); National Research Institute for Child Health and Development (2010)
• Principal Investigator: OGATA TSUTOMU 浜松医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (40169173)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): FUKAMI Maki (独)国立成育医療研究センター研究所, 分子内分泌研究部, 部長 (40265872) ; TSUTSUI Kazuyoshi 早稲田大学, 教育・総合科学学術院, 教授 (20163842)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KAGAMI Masayo (独)国立成育医療研究センター研究所, 分子内分泌研究部, 室長 (70399484)
• Project Period (FY): 2010-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 性差構築 / ヒト疾患解析 / 性分化疾患 / 遺伝的制御 / 内分泌制御

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Sex difference is established by genetic and endocrine regulations. We studied a large number (~1,000) of patient samples by next generation sequencing and array CGH analysis, and identified BHLHA9 as the novel genetic factor as well as the relevance of oligogenecity, and MAMLD1 and PROKR1 as the novel endocrine factors as well as the presence of an alternative androgen production route called backdoor pathway. We also clarified the essential role of gnih and other genes for the production of brain steroids (e.g., 7α-hydroxypregnenolone and estrogens) in the establishment of sex difference in reproductive, aggressive, and autonomous behaviors

Free Research Field

医歯薬学