Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an important technique in male infertility treatment. Currently, sperm selection for ICSI in human assisted reproductive technology (ART) is subjective, based on a visual assessment by the operator. Therefore, it is desirable to develop methods that can objectively provide an accurate assessment of the shape and size of sperm heads that use low-magnification microscopy available in most standard fertility clinics. Recent studies have shown a correlation between sperm head size and shape and chromosomal abnormalities, and fertilization rate, and various attempts have been made to establish automated computer-based measurement of the sperm head itself. For example, a dictionary-learning technique and a deep-learning-based method have both been developed. Recently, an automatic algorithm was reported that detects sperm head malformations in real time for selection of the best sperm for ICSI. These data suggest that a real-time sperm selection system for use in ICSI is necessary. Moreover, these systems should incorporate inverted microscopes (×400-600 magnification) but not the fluorescence microscopy techniques often used for a dictionary-learning technique and a deep-learning-based method. These advances are expected to improve future success rates of ARTs. In this review, we summarize recent reports on the assessment of sperm head shape, size, and acrosome status in relation to fertility, and propose further improvements that can be made to the ARTs used in infertility treatments.

DOI： 10.1017/S0967199421000307

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

The PRC2 (Polycomb repressive complex 2) complex is a multi-component histone H3K27 methyltransferase, best known for silencing Hox genes during embryonic development. The Polycomb-like proteins PHF1, MTF2 and PHF19 are critical components of PRC2 by stimulating its catalytic activity in embryonic stem (ES) cells. The Tudor domains of PHF1/19 have been previously shown to be readers of H3K36me3 in vitro. However, some other studies suggest that PHF1 and PHF19 co-localize with the H3K27me3 mark, but not H3K36me3 in cells. Here, we provide further evidence that PHF1 co-localizes with H3t in testis, and its Tudor domain preferentially binds to H3tK27me3 over canonical H3K27me3 in vitro. Our complex structures of the Tudor domains of PHF1 and PHF19 with H3tK27me3 shed light on the molecular basis for preferential recognition of H3tK27me3 by PHF1 and PHF19 over canonical H3K27me3, implicating that H3tK27me3 might be a physiological ligand of PHF1/19.

DOI： 10.7554/eLife.58675

PubMed

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：CELL PRESS  

Cellular differentiation is associated with dynamic chromatin remodeling in establishing a cell-typespecific epigenomic landscape. Here, we find that mouse testis-specific and replication-dependent histone H3 variant H3t is essential for very early stages of spermatogenesis. H3t gene deficiency leads to azoospermia because of the loss of haploid germ cells. When differentiating spermatogonia emerge in normal spermatogenesis, H3t appears and replaces the canonical H3 proteins. Structural and biochemical analyses reveal that H3t-containing nucleosomes are more flexible than the canonical nucleosomes. Thus, by incorporating H3t into the genome during spermatogonial differentiation, male germ cells are able to enter meiosis and beyond.

DOI： 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.12.065

Web of Science

PubMed

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY  

Hypoxia promotes stem cell maintenance and tumor progression, but it remains unclear how it regulates long-term adaptation toward these processes. We reveal a striking downregulation of the hypoxia-inducible histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) demethylase JMJD1A as a hallmark of clinical human germ cell-derived tumors, such as seminomas, yolk sac tumors, and embryonal mas. Jmjd1a was not essential for stem cell self-renewal but played a crucial role as a tumor suppressor in opposition to the hypoxia-regulated oncogenic H3K9 methyltransferase G9a. Importantly, loss of Jmjd1a resulted in increased tumor growth, whereas loss of G9a produced smaller tumors. Pharmacological inhibition of G9a also resulted in attenuation of tumor growth, offering a novel therapeutic strategy for germ cell-derived tumors. Finally, Jmjd1a and G9a drive mutually opposing expression of the antiangiogenic factor genes Robo4, Igfbp4, Notch4, and Tfpi accompanied by changes in H3K9 methylation status. Thus, we demonstrate a novel mechanistic link whereby hypoxia-regulated epigenetic changes are instrumental for the control of tumor growth through coordinated dysregulation of antiangiogenic gene expression.

DOI： 10.1128/MCB.00099-14

Web of Science

PubMed

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：CELL PRESS  

In mammals, DNA is methylated at CpG sites, which play pivotal roles in gene silencing and chromatin organization. Furthermore, DNA methylation undergoes dynamic changes during development, differentiation, and in pathological processes. The conventional methods represent snapshots; therefore, the dynamics of this marker within living organisms remains unclear. To track this dynamics, we made a knockin mouse that expresses a red fluorescent protein (RFP)-fused methyl-CpG-binding domain (MBD) protein from the ROSA26 locus ubiquitously; we named it MethylRO (methylation probe in ROSA26 locus). Using this mouse, we performed RFP-mediated methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-seq), whole-body section analysis, and live-cell imaging. We discovered that mobility and pattern of heterochromatin as well as DNA methylation signal intensity inside the nuclei can be markers for cellular differentiation status. Thus, the MethylRO mouse represents a powerful bioresource and technique for DNA methylation dynamics studies in developmental biology, stem cell biology, as well as in disease states.

DOI： 10.1016/j.stemcr.2014.05.008

Web of Science

PubMed

researchmap

Authorship：Last author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：WILEY-BLACKWELL  

Mammalian fertilization is a process in which two highly specialized haploid gametes unite and endow totipotency to the resulting diploid zygote. This is followed by cell proliferation and the onset of differentiation during the brief period leading up to implantation. In these processes, a number of cellular components and structures are regulated spatially and temporally, as seen in repeated cell division, cell cycle progression, and epigenetic reprogramming. In mammals, the numbers of oocytes and embryos that can be collected are very limited. Therefore, analyses of molecular mechanisms are hampered because of difficulties in conducting biochemical analyses on such limited material. Furthermore, immunostaining methods require cell fixation and are insufficient for understanding ontogeny, because the processes observed in fertilization and early embryonic development progress in time-dependent manners and each phenomenon is connected with others by cause-and-effect relationships. Consequently, it is important to develop an experimental system that enables molecular imaging without affecting embryonic development. To achieve the above advantages, especially retrospective and prospective analyses, we have established a live-cell imaging system that enables observations under minimally invasive conditions. Using this approach, we have succeeded in visualizing and predicting the developmental potential of embryos after various perturbations. We also succeeded in imaging embryonic stem (ES) cell derivation in natural conditions. In this review, we describe a brief history of embryonic imaging and detailed protocols. We also discuss promising aspects of imaging in the fields of developmental and stem cell biology.

DOI： 10.1111/dgd.12048

Web of Science

PubMed

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE  

Despite the broad literature on embryonic stem cells (ESCs), their derivation process remains enigmatic. This may be because of the lack of experimental systems that can monitor this prolonged cellular process. Here we applied a live-cell imaging technique to monitor the process of ESC derivation over 10 days from morula to outgrowth phase using an Oct4/eGFP reporter system. Our imaging reflects the 'natural' state of ESC derivation, as the ESCs established after the imaging were both competent in chimeric mice formation and germ-line transmission. Using this technique, ESC derivation in conventional conditions was imaged. After the blastocoel was formed, the intensity of Oct4 signals attenuated in the trophoblast cells but was maintained in the inner cell mass (ICM). Thereafter, the Oct4-positive cells scattered and their number decreased along with apoptosis of the other Oct4-nagative cells likely corresponds to trophoblast and hypoblast cells, and then only the surviving Oct4-positive cells proliferated and formed the colony. All embryos without exception passed through this cell death phase. Importantly, the addition of caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK to the medium dramatically suppressed the loss of Oct4-positive cells and also other embryo-derived cells, suggesting that the cell deaths was induced by a caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway. Next we imaged the ESC derivation in 3i medium, which consists of chemical compounds that can suppress differentiation. The most significant difference between the conventional and 3i methods was that there was no obvious cell death in 3i, so that the colony formation was rapid and all of the Oct4-positive cells contributed to the formation of the outgrown colony. These data indicate that the prevention of cell death in epiblast cells is one of the important events for the successful establishment of ESCs. Thus, our imaging technique can advance the understanding of the time-dependent cellular changes during ESC derivation. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.ydbio.2010.07.021

Web of Science

PubMed

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER SOC BIOCHEMISTRY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY INC  

G9a is a SET-domain mammalian histone methyltransferase responsible for mono- and dimethylation of lysine 9 in histone H3 (H3K9) at euchromatic regions. Recently we reported that G9a forms a stoichiometric heteromeric complex with another SET-domain-containing molecule, GLP/Eu-HMTase1. Although G9a and GLP can independently methylate H3K9 in vitro, G9a/GLP heteromeric formation seems to be essential for their function as a euchromatic H3K9 methyltransferase in vivo. To further elucidate how G9a/GLP-mediated histone methylation and transcriptional regulation are controlled, we purified and characterized G9a complexes from mouse embryonic stem cells. We identified a novel G9a/GLP-associating zinc finger molecule named Wiz that can interact with G9a and GLP independently but is more stable in the G9a/GLP heteromeric complexes. Interestingly, Wiz small inhibitory RNA knocks down not only Wiz but also G9a. GLP deficiency also decreases G9a levels, suggesting that the Wiz/G9a/GLP tri-complex may protect G9a from degradation and that Wiz plays a major role in G9a/GLP heterodimer formation. Furthermore, amino acid sequence analysis of Wiz predicted two potential CtBP binding sites, and indeed CtBP binding to Wiz and association of CtBP with the Wiz/G9a/GLP complex was observed. These data indicate that Wiz not only contributes to the stability of G9a but also links the G9a/GLP heteromeric complex to the CtBP co-repressor machinery.

DOI： 10.1074/jbc.M603087200

Web of Science

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Transcriptional response to changes in oxygen concentration is mainly controlled by hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs). Besides regulation of hypoxia-responsible gene expression, HIF-3α has recently been shown to be involved in lung development and in the metabolic process of fat tissue. However, the precise mechanism for such properties of HIF-3α is still largely unknown. To this end, we generated HIF3A gene-disrupted mice by means of genome editing technology to explore the pleiotropic role of HIF-3α in development and physiology. We obtained adult mice carrying homozygous HIF3A gene mutations with comparable body weight and height to wild-type mice. However, the number of litters and ratio of homozygous mutation carriers born from the mating between homozygous mutant mice was lower than expected due to sporadic deaths on postnatal day 1. HIF3A gene-disrupted mice exhibited abnormal configuration of the lung such as a reduced number of alveoli and thickened alveolar walls. Transcriptome analysis showed, as well as genes associated with lung development, an upregulation of stearoyl-Coenzyme A desaturase 1, a pivotal enzyme for fatty acid metabolism. Analysis of fatty acid composition in the lung employing gas chromatography indicated an elevation in palmitoleic acid and a reduction in oleic acid, suggesting an imbalance in distribution of fatty acid, a constituent of lung surfactant. Accordingly, administration of glucocorticoid injections during pregnancy resulted in a restoration of normal alveolar counts and a decrease in neonatal mortality. In conclusion, these observations provide novel insights into a pivotal role of HIF-3α in the preservation of critically important structure and function of alveoli beyond the regulation of hypoxia-mediated gene expression.

DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0300751

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

BACKGROUND: Mutations in GNAS drive pancreatic tumorigenesis and frequently occur in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN); however, their value as a therapeutic target is yet to be determined. This study aimed at evaluating the involvement of mutant GNAS in tumor aggressiveness in established pancreatic cancer. METHODS: CRISPR/Cas9-mediated GNAS R201H silencing was performed using human primary IPMN-associated pancreatic cancer cells. The role of oncogenic GNAS in tumor maintenance was evaluated by conducting cell culture and xenograft experiments, and western blotting and transcriptome analyses were performed to uncover GNAS-driven signatures. RESULTS: Xenografts of GNAS wild-type cells were characterized by a higher Ki-67 labeling index relative to GNAS-mutant cells. Phenotypic alterations in the GNAS wild-type tumors resulted in a significant reduction in mucin production accompanied by solid with massive stromal components. Transcriptional profiling suggested an apparent conflict of mutant GNAS with KRAS signaling. A significantly higher Notch intercellular domain (NICD) was observed in the nuclear fraction of GNAS wild-type cells. Meanwhile, inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA) induced NICD in GNAS-mutant IPMN cells, suggesting that NOTCH signaling is negatively regulated by the GNAS-PKA pathway. GNAS wild-type cells were characterized by a significant invasive property relative to GNAS-mutant cells, which was mediated through the NOTCH regulatory pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Oncogenic GNAS induces mucin production, not only via MUC2 but also via MUC5AC/B, which may enlarge cystic lesions in the pancreas. The mutation may also limit tumor aggressiveness by attenuating NOTCH signaling; therefore, such tumor-suppressing effects must be considered when therapeutically inhibiting the GNAS pathway.

DOI： 10.1007/s00535-021-01846-4

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes 1 (CREG1) is a secreted glycoprotein that accelerates p16-dependent cellular senescence in vitro. We recently reported the ability of CREG1 to stimulate brown adipogenesis using adipocyte P2-CREG1-transgenic (Tg) mice; however, little is known about the effect of CREG1 on aging-associated phenotypes. In this study, we investigated the effects of CREG1 on age-related obesity and renal dysfunction in Tg mice. Increased brown fat formation was detected in aged Tg mice, in which age-associated metabolic phenotypes such as body weight gain and increases in blood glucose were improved compared with those in wild-type (WT) mice. Blood CREG1 levels increased significantly in WT mice with age, whereas the age-related increase was suppressed, and its levels were reduced, in the livers and kidneys of Tg mice relative to those in WT mice at 25 months. Intriguingly, the mRNA levels of Ink4a, Arf, and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)-related genes and p38MAPK activity were significantly lowered in the aged kidneys of Tg mice, in which the morphological abnormalities of glomeruli as well as filtering function seen in WT kidneys were alleviated. These results suggest the involvement of CREG1 in kidney aging and its potential as a target for improving age-related renal dysfunction.

DOI： 10.3390/ijms22031276

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) contributes to anti-tumor immunity by activating antigen-presenting cells and inducing mobilization of tumor-specific T cells. A role for tumor-migrating neutrophils in the anti-tumor effect of STING-activating therapy has not been defined. We used mouse tumor transplantation models for assessing neutrophil migration into the tumor triggered by intratumoral treatment with STING agonist, 2'3'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate (cGAMP). Intratumoral STING activation with cGAMP enhanced neutrophil migration into the tumor in an NF-κB/CXCL1/2-dependent manner. Blocking the neutrophil migration by anti-CXCR2 monoclonal antibody impaired T cell activation in tumor-draining lymph nodes (dLNs) and efficacy of intratumoral cGAMP treatment. Moreover, the intratumoral cGAMP treatment did not show any anti-tumor effect in type I interferon (IFN) signal-impaired mice in spite of enhanced neutrophil accumulation in the tumor. These results suggest that both neutrophil migration and type I interferon (IFN) induction by intratumoral cGAMP treatment were critical for T-cell activation of dLNs and the anti-tumor effect. In addition, we also performed in vitro analysis showing enhanced cytotoxicity of neutrophils by IFN-β1. Extrinsic STING activation triggers anti-tumor immune responses by recruiting and activating neutrophils in the tumor via two signaling pathways, CXCL1/2 and type I IFNs.

DOI： 10.1007/s00262-021-02864-0

PubMed

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Part of collection (book)  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

BACKGROUND: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) shed from tumors into the circulation offers a tool for cancer detection. Here, we evaluated the feasibility of cfDNA measurement and utility of digital PCR (dPCR)-based assays, which reduce subsampling error, for diagnosing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) and surveillance of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). METHODS: We collected plasma from seven institutions for cfDNA measurements. Hot-spot mutations in KRAS and GNAS in the cfDNA from patients with PDA (n = 96), undergoing surveillance for IPMN (n = 112), and normal controls (n = 76) were evaluated using pre-amplification dPCR. RESULTS: Upon Qubit measurement and copy number assessment of hemoglobin-subunit (HBB) and mitochondrially encoded NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase core subunit 1 (MT-ND1) in plasma cfDNA, HBB offered the best resolution between patients with PDA relative to healthy subjects [area under the curve (AUC) 0.862], whereas MT-ND1 revealed significant differences between IPMN and controls (AUC 0.851). DPCR utilizing pre-amplification cfDNA afforded accurate tumor-derived mutant KRAS detection in plasma in resectable PDA (AUC 0.861-0.876) and improved post-resection recurrence prediction [hazard ratio (HR) 3.179, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.025-9.859] over that for the marker CA19-9 (HR 1.464; 95% CI 0.674-3.181). Capturing KRAS and GNAS could also provide genetic evidence in patients with IPMN-associated PDA and undergoing pancreatic surveillance. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma cfDNA quantification by distinct measurements is useful to predict tumor burden. Through appropriate methods, dPCR-mediated mutation detection in patients with localized PDA and IPMN likely to progress to invasive carcinoma is feasible and complements conventional biomarkers.

DOI： 10.1007/s00535-020-01724-5

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English  

Osteoclasts are hematopoietic-derived cells that resorb bone. They are required to maintain proper bone homeostasis and skeletal strength. Although osteoclast differentiation depends on receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) stimulation, additional molecules further contribute to osteoclast maturation. Here, we demonstrate that protocadherin-7 (Pcdh7) regulates formation of multinucleated osteoclasts and contributes to maintenance of bone homeostasis. We found that Pcdh7 expression is induced by RANKL stimulation, and that RNAi-mediated knockdown of Pcdh7 resulted in impaired formation of osteoclasts. We generated Pcdh7-deficient mice and found increased bone mass due to decreased bone resorption but without any defect in bone formation. Using an in vitro culture system, it was revealed that formation of multinucleated osteoclasts is impaired in Pcdh7-deficient cultures, while no apparent defects were observed in differentiation and function of Pcdh7-deficient osteoblasts. Taken together, these results reveal an osteoclast cell-intrinsic role for Pcdh7 in maintaining bone homeostasis.

PubMed

researchmap

Authorship：Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an established technology that is widely used in reproductive engineering. However, in rats, successful application of IVF is difficult to achieve, and it has had poor reproducibility. In a previous study on the critical issues associated with successful IVF in Wistar rats, we investigated the influence of oocyte collection duration on fertilization rates by dividing the procedure into three steps (oviduct extraction from euthanized animals, oocyte collection from the ampullae of oviducts, and oocyte preincubation until insemination), and identified the appropriate times for each. Here we show that use of the same defined duration for oviduct extraction from superovulated Wistar rats and for oocyte collection from the oviducts also produced highly reproducible fertilization rates of more than 90% in other rat strains. Furthermore, the versatility of these criteria was demonstrated using another IVF protocol. Thus, this simple procedure has enabled the standardization of IVF in rats and will enhance further experimental studies.

DOI： 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.01.006

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Osteoclasts are multinucleated, giant cells derived from myeloid progenitors. While receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) stimulation is the primary driver of osteoclast differentiation, additional signaling further contributes to osteoclast maturation. Here, we demonstrate that immunoglobulin superfamily member 11 (IgSF11), whose expression increases during osteoclast differentiation, regulates osteoclast differentiation through interaction with postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95), a scaffold protein with multiple protein interaction domains. IgSF11 deficiency in vivo results in impaired osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption but no observed defect in bone formation. Consequently, IgSF11-deficient mice exhibit increased bone mass. Using in vitro osteoclast culture systems, we show that IgSF11 functions through homophilic interactions. Additionally, we demonstrate that impaired osteoclast differentiation in IgSF11-deficient cells is rescued by full-length IgSF11 and that the IgSF11-PSD-95 interaction requires the 75 C-terminal amino acids of IgSF11. Our findings reveal a critical role for IgSF11 during osteoclast differentiation and suggest a role for IgSF11 in a receptor- and signal transduction molecule-containing protein complex.

DOI： 10.1038/s41413-019-0080-9

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Springer Science and Business Media LLC  

Background: Animal model studies show that reductive stress is involved in cardiomyopathy and myopathy, but the exact physiological relevance remains unknown. In addition, the microRNAs miR-143 and miR-145 have been shown to be upregulated in cardiac diseases, but the underlying mechanisms associated with these regulators have yet to be explored. Methods: We developed transgenic mouse lines expressing exogenous miR-143 and miR-145 under the control of the alpha-myosin heavy chain (αMHC) promoter/enhancer. Results: The two transgenic lines showed dilated cardiomyopathy-like characteristics and early lethality with markedly increased expression of miR-143. The expression of hexokinase 2 (HK2), a cardioprotective gene that is a target of miR-143, was strongly suppressed in the transgenic hearts, but the in vitro HK activity and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content were comparable to those observed in wild-type mice. In addition, transgenic complementation of HK2 expression did not reduce mortality rates. Although HK2 is crucial for the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and glycolysis, the ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH) to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) was unexpectedly higher in the hearts of transgenic mice. The expression of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase heavy subunit (γ-GCSc) and the in vitro activity of glutathione reductase (GR) were also higher, suggesting that the recycling of GSH and its de novo biosynthesis were augmented in transgenic hearts. Furthermore, the expression levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD, a rate-limiting enzyme for the PPP) and p62/SQSTM1 (a potent inducer of glycolysis and glutathione production) were elevated, while p62/SQSTM1 was upregulated at the mRNA level rather than as a result of autophagy inhibition. Consistent with this observation, nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and inositol-requiring enzyme 1 alpha (IRE1α) were activated, all of which are known to induce p62/SQSTM1 expression. Conclusions: Overexpression of miR-143 and miR-145 leads to a unique dilated cardiomyopathy phenotype with a reductive redox shift despite marked downregulation of HK2 expression. Reductive stress may be involved in a wider range of cardiomyopathies than previously thought.

DOI： 10.1186/s11658-020-00232-x

PubMed

researchmap

Other Link： http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s11658-020-00232-x/fulltext.html

Publishing type：Research paper (international conference proceedings)   Publisher：IEEE  

DOI： 10.1109/IIAI-AAI50415.2020.00099

researchmap

Other Link： https://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/conf/iiaiaai/iiaiaai2020.html#AndoI00BIU20

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (international conference proceedings)   Publisher：Springer  

DOI： 10.1007/978-3-030-25213-7_13

researchmap

Other Link： https://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/conf/ACISicis/ACISicis2019b.html#IwahoriTIFUB19

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (international conference proceedings)   Publisher：Elsevier  

DOI： 10.1016/j.procs.2019.09.318

researchmap

Other Link： https://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/conf/kes/kes2019.html#DasDIBIU19

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Thy28, also known as ThyN1, is a highly conserved nuclear protein. We previously showed that in a chicken mature B cell line, Thy28 binds to the promoter of the gene encoding Pax5, a transcription factor essential for B cell development, and positively regulates its expression. Here, we generated a Thy28-deficient mouse line to analyze its potential role in B cell development in mice. Thy28-deficient mice showed normal development of B cells, and the expression of Pax5 was comparable between wild-type and Thy28-deficient primary B cells. Thus, species-specific mechanisms regulate Pax5 expression and B cell development.

DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0220199

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are regarded as precursors of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAs), but little is known about the mechanism of progression. This makes it challenging to assess cancer risk in patients with IPMNs. We investigated associations of IPMNs with concurrent PDAs by genetic and histologic analyses. METHODS: We obtained 30 pancreatic tissues with concurrent PDAs and IPMNs, and 168 lesions, including incipient foci, were mapped, microdissected, and analyzed for mutations in 18 pancreatic cancer-associated genes and expression of tumor suppressors. RESULTS: We determined the clonal relatedness of lesions, based on driver mutations shared by PDAs and concurrent IPMNs, and classified the lesions into 3 subtypes. Twelve PDAs contained driver mutations shared by all concurrent IPMNs, which we called the sequential subtype. This subset was characterized by less diversity in incipient foci with frequent GNAS mutations. Eleven PDAs contained some driver mutations that were shared with concurrent IPMNs, which we called the branch-off subtype. In this subtype, PDAs and IPMNs had identical KRAS mutations but different GNAS mutations, although the lesions were adjacent. Whole-exome sequencing and methylation analysis of these lesions indicated clonal origin with later divergence. Ten PDAs had driver mutations not found in concurrent IPMNs, called the de novo subtype. Expression profiles of TP53 and SMAD4 increased our ability to differentiate these subtypes compared with sequencing data alone. The branch-off and de novo subtypes had substantial heterogeneity among early clones, such as differences in KRAS mutations. Patients with PDAs of the branch-off subtype had a longer times of disease-free survival than patients with PDAs of the de novo or the sequential subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Detailed histologic and genetic analysis of PDAs and concurrent IPMNs identified 3 different pathways by which IPMNs progress to PDAs-we call these the sequential, branch-off, and de novo subtypes. Subtypes might be associated with clinical and pathologic features and be used to select surveillance programs for patients with IPMNs.

DOI： 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.10.029

PubMed

researchmap

Publishing type：Research paper (international conference proceedings)   Publisher：IEEE  

DOI： 10.1109/IIAI-AAI.2019.00123

researchmap

Other Link： https://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/conf/iiaiaai/iiaiaai2019.html#KobayashiIIUKW19

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

J-GLOBAL

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Springer Science and Business Media LLC  

DOI： 10.1038/s41598-018-31975-5

PubMed

researchmap

Other Link： http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-31975-5

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

researchmap

Authorship：Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Springer New York LLC  

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to analyze the chromosome status and fertilization capability of sperm obtained from an infertile male patient with ring chromosome 15. Methods: This was a case report at a private in vitro fertilization clinic. A man diagnosed with severe oligozoospermia carrying ring chromosome 15. To evaluate the chromosome status and fertilization capability, sperm from a patient carrying ring chromosome 15 were injected into enucleated mouse oocytes. Results: The karyotypes of motile sperm from a patient carrying ring chromosome 15 were normal, and ring chromosome 15 was not observed in the chromosome spread samples of 1PN. In addition, these motile sperm retained the fertilization capability. However, the fertilization rates decreased (85.2, 76.2, and 64.3%, respectively) along with the decline of the aspect ratio of the sperm head (≥ 1.50, 1.30–1.49, and OpenSPiltSPi 1.30, respectively). Conclusions: The karyotypes were normal without ring chromosome 15, and motile sperm with a high aspect ratio showed adequate potential for fertilization.

DOI： 10.1007/s10815-017-1061-9

Scopus

PubMed

researchmap

Authorship：Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE  

Epigenetic mechanisms play important roles in the regulation of tumorigenesis, and hypoxia- induced epigenetic changes may be critical for the adaptation of cancer cells to the hypoxic microenvironment of solid tumors. Previously, we showed that loss-of-function of the hypoxia-regulated H3K9 methyltransferase G9A attenuates tumor growth. However, the mechanisms by which blockade of G9A leads to a tumor suppressive effect remain poorly understood. We show that G9A is highly expressed in breast cancer and is associated with poor patient prognosis, where it may function as a potent oncogenic driver. In agreement with this, G9A inhibition by the small molecule inhibitor, BIX-01294, leads to increased cell death and impaired cell migration, cell cycle and anchorage-independent growth. Interestingly, whole transcriptome analysis revealed that genes involved in diverse cancer cell functions become hypoxia-responsive upon G9A inhibition. This was accompanied by the upregulation of the hypoxia inducible factors HIF1 alpha and HIF2 alpha during BIX-01294 treatment even in normoxia that may facilitate the tumor suppressive effects of BIX-01294. HIF inhibition was able to reverse some of the transcriptional changes induced by BIX-01294 in hypoxia, indicating that the HIFs may be important drivers of these derepressed target genes. Therefore, we show that G9A is a key mediator of oncogenic processes in breast cancer cells and G9A inhibition by BIX-01294 can successfully attenuate oncogenicity even in hypoxia.

DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0188051

Web of Science

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：OXFORD UNIV PRESS  

Chromatin reorganization is necessary for pluripotent stem cells, including embryonic stem cells (ESCs), to acquire lineage potential. However, it remains unclear how ESCs maintain their characteristic chromatin state for appropriate gene expression upon differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that chromodomain helicase DNA-binding domain 2 (Chd2) is required to maintain the differentiation potential of mouse ESCs. Chd2-depleted ESCs showed suppressed expression of developmentally regulated genes upon differentiation and subsequent differentiation defects without affecting gene expression in the undifferentiated state. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing revealed alterations in the nucleosome occupancy of the histone variant H3.3 for developmentally regulated genes in Chd2-depleted ESCs, which in turn led to elevated trimethylation of the histone H3 lysine 27. These results suggest that Chd2 is essential in preventing suppressive chromatin formation for developmentally regulated genes and determines subsequent effects on developmental processes in the undifferentiated state.

DOI： 10.1093/nar/gkx475

Web of Science

PubMed

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Uhrf1-dependent histone H3 ubiquitylation plays a crucial role in the maintenance of DNA methylation via the recruitment of the DNA methyltransferase Dnmt1 to DNA methylation sites. However, the involvement of deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) targeting ubiquitylated histone H3 in the maintenance of DNA methylation is largely unknown. With the use of Xenopus egg extracts, we demonstrate here that Usp7, a ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase, forms a stable complex with Dnmt1 and is recruited to DNA methylation sites during DNA replication. Usp7 deubiquitylates ubiquitylated histone H3 in vitro. Inhibition of Usp7 activity or its depletion in egg extracts results in enhanced and extended binding of Dnmt1 to chromatin, suppressing DNA methylation. Depletion of Usp7 in HeLa cells causes enhanced histone H3 ubiquitylation and enlargement of Dnmt1 nuclear foci during DNA replication. Our results thus suggest that Usp7 is a key factor that regulates maintenance of DNA methylation.

DOI： 10.1038/s41598-017-00136-5

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (international conference proceedings)   Publisher：Elsevier B.V.  

Cytology is one of the decisive factors for the early detection of cancer. It is necessary to have a certain number of years of experience to be able to screen tumor cells for cytodiagnosis. However, this diagnosis has poor objectivity because there are so many parts that the judge's experience and skill is responsible for. In this paper, we present a new method to extract cell nuclei from HE stained images generally used cell staining for Creation of digitized objective indicators in cytology. Our method extracts cell nuclei using combining the input image and the image previously prepared by SVM. Features used in SVM are automatically generated from CNN. Results are demonstrated by experiments using the real images and its ground truths.

DOI： 10.1016/j.procs.2017.08.255

Scopus

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD  

Eukaryotic gene expression is regulated in the context of chromatin. Dynamic changes in post-translational histone modification are thought to play key roles in fundamental cellular functions such as regulation of the cell cycle, development, and differentiation. To elucidate the relationship between histone modifications and cellular functions, it is important to monitor the dynamics of modifications in single living cells. A genetically encoded probe called mintbody (modification-specific intracellular antibody), which is a single-chain variable fragment tagged with a fluorescent protein, has been proposed as a useful visualization tool. However, the efficacy of intracellular expression of antibody fragments has been limited, in part due to different environmental conditions in the cytoplasm compared to the endoplasmic reticulum where secreted proteins such as antibodies are folded. In this study, we have developed a new mintbody specific for histone H4 Lys20 monomethylation (H4K2Ome1). The specificity of the H4K2Ome1-mintbody in living cells was verified using yeast mutants and mammalian cells in which this target modification was diminished. Expression of the H4K20me1-mintbody allowed us to monitor the oscillation of H4K2Ome1 levels during the cell cycle. Moreover, dosage-compensated X chromosomes were visualized using the H4K20me1-mintbody in mouse and nematode cells. Using X-ray crystallography and mutational analyses, we identified critical amino acids that contributed to stabilization and/or proper folding of the mintbody. Taken together, these data provide important implications for future studies aimed at developing functional intracellular antibodies. Specifically, the H4K2Ome1-mintbody provides a powerful tool to track this particular histone modification in living cells and organisms. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

DOI： 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.08.010

Web of Science

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Eukaryotic gene expression is regulated in the context of chromatin. Dynamic changes in post-translational histone modification are thought to play key roles in fundamental cellular functions such as regulation of the cell cycle, development, and differentiation. To elucidate the relationship between histone modifications and cellular functions, it is important to monitor the dynamics of modifications in single living cells. A genetically encoded probe called mintbody (modification-specific intracellular antibody), which is a single-chain variable fragment tagged with a fluorescent protein, has been proposed as a useful visualization tool. However, the efficacy of intracellular expression of antibody fragments has been limited, in part due to different environmental conditions in the cytoplasm compared to the endoplasmic reticulum where secreted proteins such as antibodies are folded. In this study, we have developed a new mintbody specific for histone H4 Lys20 monomethylation (H4K20me1). The specificity of the H4K20me1-mintbody in living cells was verified using yeast mutants and mammalian cells in which this target modification was diminished. Expression of the H4K20me1-mintbody

DOI： 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.08.010

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (bulletin of university, research institution)  

File： L01_012_073.pdf

researchmap

Other Link： http://search.jamas.or.jp/link/ui/2017038314

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (bulletin of university, research institution)  

File： L01_012_092.pdf

researchmap

Other Link： http://search.jamas.or.jp/link/ui/2017038317

Authorship：Corresponding author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：F HERNANDEZ  

Embryonic development and differentiation are controlled largely by external stimuli. Mechanical forces, such as those exerted by the surrounding cells and tissues, gravity and substrate rigidity, have been shown to affect cell morphology and spreading, thus triggering signaling pathways that dictate their development. These mechanosignaling pathways play important roles in cellular differentiation and the determination of cell fate. In this review, we discuss the effects of external environmental stimuli on cell differentiation and how this affects pluripotency, as well as the key molecules and pathways involved in mechanosignaling, particularly in relation to embryonic stem cells. Advances in experimental techniques and devices used to study the different aspects of mechanobiology are also examined. Finally, the effects of mechanical stress on the initiation and maintenance of pathological processes such as cancer, as well as their implications for prognosis and possible therapies, are discussed.

File： Ho et al., Histology and Histopathology, 2016.pdf

DOI： 10.14670/HH-11-665

Web of Science

PubMed

researchmap

Scopus

researchmap

Other Link： http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8027-8069

Authorship：Lead author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：(一社)日本病理学会  

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Japanese Society of Mammalian Ova Research  

The quality of embryos and the choice of the one with the best quality is an urgent issue in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and the animal breeding industry. Although morphological assessments, such as Gardner criteria, are widely used, their objectivity and quantitation remain controversial. As the cellular structure and metabolism change dynamically during preimplantation development, it is desirable to monitor the whole process spatiotemporally based on multidimensional image information. We have developed a novel live-cell imaging methodology for the preimplantation embryo that enables the monitoring of the various events continuously taking place from fertilization to the blastocyst stage. One of advantage of this methodology is that we can see the effect of phenomena observed during imaging on the developmental potential to term, as cellular damage is suppressed in our system. Moreover, it allows the automatic extraction of various parameters from image data using customized algorithms developed by us. Therefore, we consider that this methodology will be a powerful tool for the quantitative analysis of the quality of embryos, and for the determination of the reasons for the attenuation of embryo quality.

DOI： 10.1274/jmor.32.149

Scopus

researchmap

Language：English   Publisher：日本癌学会  

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publisher：CELL PRESS  

DOI： 10.1016/j.stemcr.2014.06.006

Web of Science

researchmap

DOI： 10.1038/srep02436

PubMed

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1101/gad.221176.113

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

In serum, mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) fluctuate between a naive inner cell mass (ICM)-like state and a primed epiblast-like state, but when cultured with inhibitors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 pathways (2i), they are harnessed exclusively in a distinct naive pluropotent state, the ground state, that more faithfully recapitulates the ICM. Understanding the mechanism underlying this naive pluripotent state will be critical for realizing the full potential of ESCs. We show here that PRDM14, a PR-domain-containing transcriptional regulator, ensures naive pluripotency through a dual mechanism: antagonizing activation of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling by the core pluripotency transcriptional circuitry, and repressing expression of de novo DNA methyltransferases that modify the epigenome to a primed epiblast-like state. PRDM14 exerts these effects by recruiting polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) specifically to key targets and repressing their expression.

DOI： 10.1016/j.stem.2012.12.012

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Post-translational histone modifications play key roles in gene regulation, development, and differentiation, but their dynamics in living organisms remain almost completely unknown. To address this problem, we developed a genetically encoded system for tracking histone modifications by generating fluorescent modification-specific intracellular antibodies (mintbodies) that can be expressed in vivo. To demonstrate, an H3 lysine 9 acetylation specific mintbody (H3K9ac-mintbody) was engineered and stably expressed in human cells. In good agreement with the localization of its target acetylation, H3K9ac-mintbody was enriched in euchromatin, and its kinetics measurably changed upon treatment with a histone deacetylase inhibitor. We also generated transgenic fruit fly and zebrafish stably expressing H3K9ac-mintbody for in vivo tracking. Dramatic changes in H3K9ac-mintbody localization during Drosophila embryogenesis could highlight enhanced acetylation at the start of zygotic transcription around mitotic cycle 7. Together, this work demonstrates the broad potential of mintbody and lays the foundation for epigenetic analysis in vivo.

DOI： 10.1038/srep02436

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：American Association for the Advancement of Science  

Ovulation in the mouse and other mammals is controlled by hormones secreted by the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis. We describe anovulation and infertility in female mice lacking the microRNAs miR-200b and miR-429. Both miRNAs are strongly expressed in the pituitary gland, where they suppress expression of the transcriptional repressor ZEB1. Eliminating these miRNAs, in turn, inhibits luteinizing hormone (LH) synthesis by repressing transcription of its β-subunit gene, which leads to lowered serum LH concentration, an impaired LH surge, and failure to ovulate. Our results reveal roles for miR-200b and miR-429, and their target the Zeb1 gene, in the regulation of mammalian reproduction. Thus, the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis was shown to require miR-200b and miR-429 to support ovulation.

DOI： 10.1126/science.1237999

Scopus

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：WILEY-BLACKWELL  

Recent studies reveal that the mechanical environment influences the behavior and function of various types of cells, including stem cells. However, signaling pathways involved in the mechanical regulation of stem cell properties remain largely unknown. Using polyacrylamide gels with varying Young's moduli as substrates, we demonstrate that mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) are induced to differentiate on substrates with defined elasticity, involving the Src-ShcA-MAP kinase pathway. While the dual inhibition of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), termed "2i," was reported to sustain the pluripotency of mESCs, we find it to be substrate elasticity dependent. In contrast, Src inhibition in addition to 2i allows mESCs to retain their pluripotency independent of substrate elasticity. The alter-native dual inhibition of Src and GSK3 ("alternative 2i") retains the pluripotency and self-renewal of mESCs in vitro and is instrumental in efficiently deriving mESCs from preimplantation mouse embryos. In addition, the transplantation of mESCs, maintained under the alternative 2i condition, to immunodeficient mice leads to the formation of teratomas that include differentiation into three germ layers. Furthermore, mESCs established with alternative 2i contributed to chimeric mice production and transmitted to the germline. These results reveal a role for Src-ShcA-MAP kinase signaling in the mechanical regulation of mESC properties and indicate that alternative 2i is a versatile tool for the maintenance of mESCs in serum-free conditions as well as for the derivation of mESCs. STEM CELLS 2012;30:1394-1404

DOI： 10.1002/stem.1119

Web of Science

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP  

The pluripotency-determining gene Oct3/4 (also called Pou5f1) undergoes postimplantation silencing in a process mediated by the histone methyltransferase G9a. Microarray analysis now shows that this enzyme may operate as a master regulator that inactivates numerous early-embryonic genes by bringing about heterochromatinization of methylated histone H3K9 and de novo DNA methylation. Genetic studies in differentiating embryonic stem cells demonstrate that a point mutation in the G9a SET domain prevents heterochromatinization but still allows de novo methylation, whereas biochemical and functional studies indicate that G9a itself is capable of bringing about de novo methylation through its ankyrin domain, by recruiting Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b independently of its histone methyltransferase activity. These modifications seem to be programmed for carrying out two separate biological functions: histone methylation blocks target-gene reactivation in the absence of transcriptional repressors, whereas DNA methylation prevents reprogramming to the undifferentiated state.

DOI： 10.1038/nsmb.1476

Web of Science

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：BLACKWELL PUBLISHING  

G9a belongs to the subfamily of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3-K9)-specific methyltransferases. On amino acid sequence alignment of human and Drosophila G9a, we found that the N-terminal region from amino acids 532-605 to be evolutionarily conserved and named this the G9a homology domain (GHD). Using the GHD of human G9a (hG9a) as a bait, we isolated cDNA encoding a zinc finger protein 200 (ZNF200), which contains five C2H2-type zinc finger domains in tandem arrays. Interaction between G9a and ZNF200 could be demonstrated by in vitro binding assays and immunoprecipitation experiments using cultured human HEK293 cell extracts. GST pull-down assays using deletion derivatives of ZNF200 revealed that the interaction is through a region encompassing three of the five zinc finger domains. Furthermore, ZNF200 appear to co-localize with G9a in the nucleoplasm of HEK293 cells as discrete speckles. These results demonstrate that ZNF200 is a novel binding partner of G9a.

DOI： 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2007.01098.x

Web of Science

PubMed

researchmap

Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

PubMed

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Doctoral thesis  

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：COLD SPRING HARBOR LAB PRESS, PUBLICATIONS DEPT  

Histone H3 Lys 9 (H3-K9) methylation is a crucial epigenetic mark for transcriptional silencing. G9a is the major mammalian H3-K9 methyltransferase that targets euchromatic regions and is essential for murine embryogenesis. There is a single G9a-related methyltransferase in mammals, called GLP/Eu-HMTase1. Here we show that GLP is also important for H3-K9 methylation of mouse euchromatin. GLP-deficiency led to embryonic lethality, a severe reduction of H3-K9 mono- and dimethylation, the induction of Mage-a gene expression, and HP1 relocalization in embryonic stem cells, all of which were phenotypes of G9a-deficiency. Furthermore, we show that G9a and GLP formed a stoichiometric heteromeric complex in a wide variety of cell types. Biochemical analyses revealed that formation of the G9a/GLP complex was dependent on their enzymatic SET domains. Taken together, our new findings revealed that G9a and GLP cooperatively exert H3-K9 methyltransferase function in vivo, likely through the formation of higher-order heteromeric complexes.

DOI： 10.1101/gad.1284005

Web of Science

PubMed

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：COLD SPRING HARBOR LAB PRESS  

Covalent modification of histone tails is crucial for transcriptional regulation, mitotic chromosomal condensation, and heterochromatin formation. Histone H3 lysine 9 (H3-K9) methylation catalyzed by the Suv39h family proteins is essential for establishing the architecture of pericentric heterochromatin. We recently identified a mammalian histone methyltransferase (HMTase), G9a, which has strong HMTase activity towards H3-K9 in vitro. To investigate the in vivo functions of G9a, we generated G9a-deficient mice and embryonic stem (ES) cells. We found that H3-K9 methylation was drastically decreased in G9a-deficient embryos, which displayed severe growth retardation and early lethality. G9a-deficient ES cells also exhibited reduced H3-K9 methylation compared to wild-type cells, indicating that G9a is a dominant H3-K9 HMTase in vivo. Importantly, the loss of G9a abolished methylated H3-K9 mostly in euchromatic regions. Finally, G9a exerted a transcriptionally suppressive function that depended on its HMTase activity. Our results indicate that euchromatic H3-K9 methylation regulated by G9a is essential for early embryogenesis and is involved in the transcriptional repression of developmental genes.

DOI： 10.1101/gad989402

Web of Science

PubMed

researchmap

J-GLOBAL

researchmap

生きたままメチル化DNAを可視化することが出来る「MethylRO」マウス由来の胚性幹細胞を用いて、イメージング条件下で単一細胞状態からエピブラスト様細胞に分化・分裂誘導が可能な系の構築について概説する

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)  

We report a new method for investigating compaction stability of individual chromosomes isolated from single mammalian cells in different differentiation states. To achieve this, we developed a microfluidic device that enables isolation of individual chromosomes from single cells and to unfold and stretch the chromosomes by gentle flow with increasing salt concentration under a fluorescence microscope. We found that the compaction stability of chromosomes is relatively lower for embryonic stem (ES) cells compared to that for differentiated cells.

Scopus

researchmap

Language：Japanese  

J-GLOBAL

researchmap

researchmap

researchmap

Language：Japanese  

File： Antenna.pdf

researchmap

Language：Japanese  

File： 朝日新聞朝刊.pdf

researchmap

Language：Japanese  

File： 研究成果プレスリリース.pdf

researchmap

J-GLOBAL

researchmap

J-GLOBAL

researchmap

researchmap

researchmap

J-GLOBAL

researchmap

Language：Japanese  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (trade magazine, newspaper, online media)  

File： 朝日新聞記事.pdf

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (trade magazine, newspaper, online media)  

File： 日経バイオテク.pdf

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (trade magazine, newspaper, online media)  

File： 日経新聞記事.pdf

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Meeting report  

File： NewsNo32.pdf

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)   Publisher：GENETICS SOC JAPAN  

Web of Science

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publisher：THE SOCIETY FOR REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT  

DOI： 10.14882/jrds.105.0_116

J-GLOBAL

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Internal/External technical report, pre-print, etc.  

File： CST_Application_71.pdf

researchmap

Language：Japanese  

researchmap

Language：English   Presentation type：Oral presentation (invited, special)  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Public lecture, seminar, tutorial, course, or other speech  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Public lecture, seminar, tutorial, course, or other speech  

researchmap

Language：English   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Public lecture, seminar, tutorial, course, or other speech  

researchmap

Language：English   Presentation type：Poster presentation  

Venue：Oberstdorf, Germany  

researchmap

Language：English   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

researchmap

Language：English   Presentation type：Poster presentation  

researchmap

Language：English   Presentation type：Poster presentation  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (invited, special)  

researchmap

Language：English   Presentation type：Poster presentation  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Public lecture, seminar, tutorial, course, or other speech  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Public lecture, seminar, tutorial, course, or other speech  

researchmap

Language：English   Presentation type：Poster presentation  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (invited, special)  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (invited, special)  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

researchmap

Language：Japanese   Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)  

researchmap

Type：Visiting lecture

researchmap

Type：Visiting lecture

researchmap

Type：Newspaper, magazine

researchmap

researchmap

researchmap

researchmap

researchmap

researchmap

researchmap

researchmap

researchmap

researchmap

researchmap

researchmap

researchmap

researchmap