Sex specification of germline cells by epigenetic regulation in mice

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H02472
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Animal production science
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture
• Principal Investigator: Kono Tomohiro 東京農業大学, 生命科学部, 教授 (80153485)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小林 久人 東京農業大学, その他部局等, 准教授 (70632727) ; 外丸 祐介 広島大学, 自然科学研究支援開発センター, 教授 (90309352)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: エピジェネティクス / 始原生殖細胞 / 性分化 / トランスクリプトーム / ヒストン修飾 / ChIP-seq

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We conducted studies on mechanisms underlying sex differentiation of mouse primordial germ cells (PGCs). By transcriptome analysis, we identified gene expression profiles specific for male and female PGCs, respectively; which could lead sex differences at early stage of PGCs. We successfully obtained global information of comprehensive histone modifications of PGCs by ChIP-seq analysis. Interestingly the data demonstrated sex specific difference of histone modifications, which would regulate sex specific gene expression of PGCs. Furthermore, transgenic mice lacking Sry, sex-determining region Y, were produced by genome editing procedure and we showed molecular mechanism underlying depletion and dysfunction of XY oocytes. This project provides further insight into epigenetic regulation for differentiation of female and male germ cells.

Free Research Field

生殖科学