Molecular mechanisms of small RNA-mediated epigenetic programming

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Analyses and regulation of germline epigenome
• Project/Area Number: 25112005
• 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: National Institute of Genetics (2017); Keio University (2013-2016)
• Principal Investigator: SAITO KUNIAKI 国立遺伝学研究所, 系統生物研究センター, 教授 (30423396)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-06-28 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: エピゲノム / Piwi / piRNA / ショウジョウバエ / クロマチン / OSC / ヒストン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to elucidate the function of Piwi, we looked for Piwi-interacting proteins and discovered a factor named DmGTSF1. We discovered that DmGTSF1 is essential for retrotransposon silencing and importance of Zn-finger motif of DmGTSF1. In addition, we found that linker histone H1 also interacts with Piwi. Biochemical analyses revealed that Piwi positively regulates the interaction between target retrotransposons and H1. Furthermore, ATAC-seq method enabled us to conclude that Piwi promotes chromatin aggregation of target retrotransposons via H1. Based on the above results, a molecular mechanism of epigenome regulation by small RNA was addressed.

Free Research Field

分子生物学