Hokkaido
University
Graduate
School of Life Science
Biosystems Science Course
Laboratory of Cell function and Structure 3
Research 1 Regulatory mechanisms of gene
expression in Plants
Regulation
of gene expression is the cellular control of the amount and timing of
appearance of the functional product of a gene. Controlled gene expression is
the essential to life. The amount of protein depends on the tissue, the
developmental stage and the metabolic or physiologic state of the cell.
Therefore, gene regulation gives the cell control over structure and function,
and is the basis for cellular differentiation, morphogenesis and the
adaptability of any organism. Gene expression is a multi-step process that
begins with transcription, post-transcriptional modification and translation,
followed by post-translational modification and targeting. The gene expression
may be controlled at any of several stages, which contain from the
transcription step to post-translational modification of a protein. The control
of gene expression is fundamentally performed by the combination of cis-elements
and trans-elements. Many proteins were known as the trans-elements. Recently,
the mechanisms, which RNA molecules controlled the gene expression were
reported. Some studies revealed that small RNA molecules have the capacity to
regulate gene expression at the transcriptional level and post-transcriptional
level. In Arabidopsis thaliana, more than 100 small RNAs have been found and
some of them play a crucial role in development are reported. On the other
hand, genome projects revealed that the extensive population of non-coding RNAs
in many organisms. It is speculated that they function as trans-elements for
regulation of gene expression, but their functions have been unknown without
some exceptions.
We investigate the genetic control of the development in Arabidopsis thaliana.
The main interest is the control mechanisms of gene expression, especially the
role of RNAs for gene expression. Our research effort in recent years
concentrated on the following subjects: 1) Functional analyses of the
non-coding RNAs in Arabidopsis thaliana; 2) Functional
analyses of RNA binding proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana. For these objects, we
used the methods of the genetics and molecular biology.
Research 2 Regulation mechanism of
transposons in plants
Transposon
was first reported in plant and this finding was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1983.
Transposons exist in almost all eukaryotes and we now know they are important
elements on the genome. After complete genome sequencing, many interesting
findings have been reported about the expressions and transpositions of
transposons in several species. It is worth to mention that transpositions of
transposons may become a powerful force to the genome evolution. Transposons
are one of the main elements in the genomes of many species. Recently it has
become clearer that they have several important biological functions. Some
multi-copy transposons within heterochromatic regions play a role in
stabilizing genomes. It has also been reported that transposon insertions near
genes can alter gene expression. Most of the transposons are silenced because
of their methylated DNA and histone modifications. However, under specific
conditions, transposons can be activated and transposed. My interest is how
environment affects transposon activation in nature. I focus on the
relationship between environmental stress and transposon regulation.
We are
always looking for motivated and talented people!
You can apply to the official international
PhD program of the Hokkaido University.
Contact
Professor
Atsushi Kato
Room# 5-7-706
Tel: +81(11)-706-4468
E-mail: atsushi@sci.hokudai.ac.jp
Assistant
Professor
Hidetaka Ito
Room# 5-7-707
Tel: +81(11)-706-4469
E-mail: hito@mail.sci.hokudai.ac.jp
Kita 10 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo,Hokkaido,
060-0810, JAPAN
Link
Graduate school of life science, Hokkaido Univ.
National Institute of Genetics