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FUNDING PROGRAM FOR NEXT GENERATION WORLD-LEADING RESEARCHERS
Project Title: Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of chromatin modification in the genome reprogramming
Name: Yuichi TSUKADA
Institution: Kyushu University
1.Background of research
During life cycle of multicellular organisms, different cells and tissues acquire different programmes of gene
expression. For most of cell types in the body, programmes for gene expression become fixed once the cells
differentiate. However, some cells in the body undergo “reprogramming” of gene expression in normal
developmental situation. In particular, the ultimate reprogramming happens after fertilization by which
differentiated-cell gametes acquire totipotency as undifferentiated stem cell.
2. Research objectives
It has been thought that the programming and reprogramming of gene expression are substantially regulated by
epigenetics. Epigenetics is a regulation mechanism of gene expression by modifications of chromatin such as
DNA methylation, covalent histone modifications, and non-histone proteins that cause modification of chromatin
structure. Thus a goal of the study is the understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of chromatin modification
in the genome reprogramming for totipotency.
3. Research characteristics (incl. originality and creativity)
The study attempts to understand the regulatory mechanism of chromatin modification in the genome
reprogramming of early mammalian embryo by an identification of and functional analyses of regulatory factors
that specifically exist in early mammalian embryo.
4. Anticipated effects and future applications of research
Outcome of the study can contribute to the advancement of the research of early mammalian embryo
development and be applied to innovation of more efficient method to reprogram differentiated cells into
pluripotent or totipotent stem cells, thereby will advance translational research in many areas of medicine.