Research Site : PRESTO Researcher, Japan Science and Technology Agency (Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University)
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation is the gene regulation mechanism which is not accompanied by changing the DNA sequences. DNA methylation and histone modifications are the major molecular mechanisms underlying the epigenetic regulation. We have entertained a possibility that small RNA, especially piRNA, would play pivotal roles in DNA methylation during spermatogenesis. The major goal of this project is to reveal the functions of piRNAs on epigenetic regulation during spermatogenesis in mammals.
