Skeletal muscle differentiation regulated by chromatin composition

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17H03608
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Genome biology
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Ohkawa Yasuyuki 九州大学, 生体防御医学研究所, 教授 (80448430)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: クロマチン / ヒストンバリアント / 骨格筋分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In cell differentiation, a group of differentiation-related genes are selectively expressed by various epigenome regulations including transcription factors and histone modifications. In recent years, it has been cleared that histone variants form a chromatin structure at a specific composition ratio and are widely involved in the selective gene expression on the genome to the regulation of transcriptional amount. However, there are still many unclear points about the formation mechanism and function. Therefore, in the present study, novel identified skeletal muscle-specific histone variants from the selection of differentiation genes in the process of reaching various precursor cells and mature muscle tissues in the process from skeletal muscle stem cells to mature muscle tissues. We have elucidated the chromatin composition on the genome and its function when controlling the transcription level, some of which have been published and others have been submitted.

Free Research Field

エピゲノム

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、骨格筋幹細胞から筋肉を形成する遺伝子発現プログラムの解明を進めた。細胞内の遺伝子発現は、クロマチン構造の変換により制御されている。その構造を担っているのが、ヒストンである。本研究ではヒストンの亜種の解析、特に骨格筋幹細胞に発現するものに焦点を絞って解析を行い、骨格筋分化を促進、あるいは阻害する機能をもつ新規ヒストンを同定した。今後これらヒストンを起点とした筋再生機構の解明や応用が期待できる。