Understanding the role of beta-catenin for angiogenesis

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24790304
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General medical chemistry
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: TERAI KENTA 東京大学, 分子細胞生物学研究所, 助教 (20616073)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KASHIWADA Takeru
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ゼブラフィッシュ / 血管新生 / 次世代シークエンサー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Angiogenesis is an essential event for animal development. Beta-catenin is a well-known molecule for regulating angiogenesis. Lack of beta-catenin in blood vessel cells cause vascular abnormality and poor development in mouse. However when and where beta-catenin is activated is not well known. To understand and visualize beta-catenin activity, we generated transgenic zebrafish which represents beta-catenin transcriptional activity in living fish.
By using the fish, we identified that beta-catenin activated cells during caudal vein plexuses formation. Furthermore, the activity of beta-catenin is positively regulated by Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) dependent AnGiogenic factor with G patch and FHA domains 1 (AGGF1) expression. The activation of beta-catenin in CVP is dispensable for cell survival and cell differentiation.

Free Research Field

発生生物学