Research Support
SPIRITS

Epitranscriptome Landscape in Biological Rhythms: Physiological Relevance of Post-transcriptional RNA modifications

Project Gist

Epitranscriptome Landscape in Biological Rhythms: Physiological Relevance of Post-transcriptional RNA modifications

Keywords

RNA modification, Biological rhythms, Clock genes, Methylation

Background, Purpose, and Project Achievements

The aim of the project is to clarify the importance of RNA processing in the control of circadian metabolism at multiple levels. Regulation of gene expression via direct RNA modification is collectively known as the “epitranscriptome”. Since it is an emerging field at the frontier of biological research, by organizing three international symposium we will promote interactions between scientist experts in RNA metabolism and experts in circadian physiology, seeking to create a fertile ground for new research ideas and fruitful collaborations. These symposiums between attendants with established and young researchers will then identify key avenues for immediate and long term investigations.

Future Prospects

The biological clock is composed of clock genes regulating their own transcription in a transcription-translation feedback loop that also drives rhythmic transcription of thousands of output genes. The time signal is born and integrated into the upper layers of life from gene to behavior. We recently demonstrated that methylation of mRNA itself at is involved in determining the period length of the clock. We thus created a standpoint from which to organize an international collaborative effort between laboratories involved in circadian physiology and RNA metabolism that will further examine novel posttranscriptional mechanisms, focusing on RNA processing, which leads to diseases such as metabolic syndrome, hypertension and cancer.

Figures

Poster of the International Conference “Molecular Clock 2015”
Participants of the International Conference “RNA & Clock 2015”

Principal Investigator

OKAMURA Hitoshi

・OKAMURA Hitoshi
・Department of System Biology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
・ Hitoshi Okamura is a Professor of Systems Biology n Kyoto University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences from 2007. He received MD and PhD in Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine. Before the present status, he was the Professor in Kobe University between 1995-2008. He was awarded with The Medal with Purple Ribbon (2007). His research subject is a molecular dissection of mammalian circadian system.
http://www.pharm.kyoto-u.ac.jp/system-biology/