A role of Bcl11b in the development of olfactory sensory neurons

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25840085
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Developmental biology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Enomoto Takayuki 東京工業大学, バイオ研究基盤支援総合センター, 東工大特別研究員 (70635680)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞分化 / 転写因子 / 嗅覚 / 遺伝子発現制御 / 細胞運命決定 / マウス遺伝学 / 感覚神経 / 神経接続

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) detect a vast number of odorous chemicals from the external environment. Each OSN has distinct characteristics by choosing only one from the repertoire of odorant receptor (OR) genes. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the characterization of OSNs is not well understood. In this study, we show that a zinc finger transcription factor Bcl11b is a key regulator for the cell-fate determination of OSNs. In the mouse, OR genes are classified into two groups, classⅠ and classⅡ. During the development of OSNs, an individual OSN is fated to express a single OR gene from either classⅠ or classⅡ OR repertoires. We found that Bcl11b is predominantly expressed in classⅡ OSNs. Loss of Bcl11b function resulted in a severe reduction of classⅡ OSNs, instead in an increase and expansion of classⅠ OSNs. Gain of Bcl11b function mutation decreased classⅠ OSN population and increased classⅡ. Thus, Bcl11b controls the alternative OSN-fates.

Free Research Field

神経科学