相澤研究ユニット

脊椎動物の体は体節をもつ体幹部、体節の存在しない菱脳・際弓部、脊索の前に膨らんだ吻側頭部という3つの異なる分節性をもつ部域よりなり、前後・背腹・左右軸に沿っての位置価に応じ、3胚葉に各組織・器官が形成されています。当研究グループはこの様な脊椎動物の体が、どの様な分子プランのもと形成されるに至ったかを、個体発生のみならず系統発生学的観点より研究します。すべての後生動物同様、脊椎動物も頭部より発生し、また脳は脊椎動物に最も特徴的な構造ですので、頭部形成の分子機構解明に重点を置きます。哺乳動物での遺伝学的解析を基盤に研究を進めますが、各種脊椎動物での解析も進め、頭部形成の比較分子発生学的解明を目指します。

研究テーマ

• 前後軸形成の分子機構
• 頭部誘導の分子機構
• 前脳、中脳領域化の分子機構

主要論文

1. Abe T, Sakaue-Sawano A, Kiyonari H, Shioi G, Inoue K, Horiuchi T, Nakao K, Miyawaki A, Aizawa S, Fujimori T
   Visualization of cell cycle in mouse embryos with Fucci2 reporter directed by Rosa 26 promoter.
   Development 140, 237-46 (2013)
2. Ohmura, T., Shioi, G., Hirano, M. and Aizawa, S.
   Neural tube defects by NUAK1 and NUAK2 double mutation.
   Dev. Dyn. 241, 1350-1364. (2012).
3. Inoue, F., Kurokawa, D., Takahashi, M. and Aizawa, S.
   Gbx2 directly restricts Otx2 expression to forebrain and midbrain, competing with class III POU factors.
   Mol. Cell. Biol. 32, 2618-2627. (2012).
4. Kurokawa, D., Ohmura, T., Akasaka, K. and Aizawa, S.
   A lineage specific enhancer drives Otx2 expression in teleost organizer tissues.
   Mech. Dev. 128, 653-661. (2012).
5. Takechi, M., Takeuchi, M., Ota, KG., Nishimura, O., Mochii, M., Itomi, K., Adachi, N., Takahashi, M., Fujimoto, S., Tarui, H., Okabe, M., Aizawa, S. and Kuratani, S.
   An overview of transcriptome profiles identified in hagfish, shark, and bichir: Current issues arising from some nonmodel vertebrate taxa.
   J. of Experimental Zoology Part B, Molecular and Developmental Evolution 316, 526-546. (2011).
6. Shibata, M., Nakao, H., Kiyonari H., Abe T. and Aizawa, S.
   MicroRNA-9 regulates neurogenesis in mouse telencephalon by targeting multiple transcription factors.
   J. Neurosci. 31, 3407-3422. (2011).
7. Sakurai, Y., Kurokawa, D., Kiyonari, H., Kajikawa, E., Suda, Y. and Aizawa, S.
   Otx2 and Otx1 protect diencephalon and mesencephalon from caudalization into metencephalon during early brain regionalization.
   Dev. Biol. 347, 392-403. (2010).
8. Suda, Y., Kokura, K., Kimura, J., Kajikawa, E., Inoue, F. and Aizawa, S.
   The same enhancer regulates the earliest Emx2 expression in caudal forebrain primordium, subsequent expression in dorsal telencephalon and later expression in the cortical ventricular zone.
   Development 137, 2939-2949. (2010).
9. Kurokawa, D., Ohmura, T., Ogino, H., Takeuchi, M., Inoue, A., Inoue, F., Suda, Y. and Aizawa, S.
   Evolutionary origin of the Otx2 enhancer for its expression in visceral endoderm.
   Dev. Biol. 342, 110-120. (2010).
10. Takeuchi, M., Takahashi, M., Okabe, M. and Aizawa, S.
    Germ layer patterning in bichir and lamprey; an insight into its evolution in vertebrates.
    Dev. Biol. 332, 90-102. (2009).