Mechanism of tumour heterogeneity mediated by mRNA processing

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K09314
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Gastroenterology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: NISHIDA Kensei 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学域), 准教授 (10624033)
• Research Collaborator: TANAKA Hiroki ; KUWANO Yuki ; ROKUTAN Kazuhito
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: ヘテロジェナイティ / 大腸がん / 上皮間葉移行 / RNAプロセシング / DNAメチル化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We purified a subpopulation of cells from the colon cancer cell line HCT116, which had high migration capacity. Using this subpopulation, we investigated novel factors involved in migrating capacity. We had following findings: (1) identifiation of 35 up-regulated genes in mRNA expression, whose promoter region were hypermethylated and (2) identification of a microRNA cluster, which is upregulated in gene expression, in acquiring increased migratory capabilities in colon cancer cells.

Free Research Field

RNAバイオロジー

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

がんの遊走能獲得は、浸潤・転移などのがんの悪性形質獲得における重要な形質となる。本研究で同定に成功した、（１）遊走能獲得過程でDNAメチル化を介して発現が制御される遺伝子、ならびに（２）発現が上昇するmicroRNAクラスターは、大腸がんの進展・悪性化を制御する分子生物学的メカニズムの解明ならびに、治療ターゲットの開発に役立つ可能性が示唆された。