2020.10.2 Misc. Research Highlight: Tachibana Lab, Release: "The mouse Sry locus harbors a cryptic exon that is essential for male sex determination"
Prof. Makoto Tachibana started his epigenetic research twenty years ago when he happened across the mammalian novel enzyme for histone methylation. Now, it has been exactly 2 years since his lab, the Tachibana Lab, was established at Osaka University. It’s focus has been on how epigenetic regulation reflects a variety of life activity and biogenic functions. Recently, Professor Tachibana’s team have turned a key discovery for mammalian sex determination into their main focus.
Sex determination has been widely believed to be regulated by genes, but as it turns out, genes aren’t the only factor. The latest findings have upended the base of what we once thought of as common knowledge. Additionally, research into this new discovery has also provided the lab with unique data concerning how various metabolic states are linked to epigenetics.
In the latest paper, published in Science, they reveal that Sry (the sex-determining gene, believed to be a single-exon gene) locus in mice harbors a secondary cryptic exon (Sry-T) that is essential for male sex determination (details here).
The next achievement Prof. Tachibana will focus on will be to use their analysis of Sry to elucidate the mechanism for this activation and clarify which acquired environmental factors can influence sex determination at a molecular level.
Professor Tachibana himself is still conducting experiments and research, while keeping a personable and friendly atmosphere in his lab. He likes to take walks now and then on campus to refresh himself.
More details about his work and novel research topics can be found here.
Sex determination has been widely believed to be regulated by genes, but as it turns out, genes aren’t the only factor. The latest findings have upended the base of what we once thought of as common knowledge. Additionally, research into this new discovery has also provided the lab with unique data concerning how various metabolic states are linked to epigenetics.
In the latest paper, published in Science, they reveal that Sry (the sex-determining gene, believed to be a single-exon gene) locus in mice harbors a secondary cryptic exon (Sry-T) that is essential for male sex determination (details here).
The next achievement Prof. Tachibana will focus on will be to use their analysis of Sry to elucidate the mechanism for this activation and clarify which acquired environmental factors can influence sex determination at a molecular level.
Professor Tachibana himself is still conducting experiments and research, while keeping a personable and friendly atmosphere in his lab. He likes to take walks now and then on campus to refresh himself.
More details about his work and novel research topics can be found here.
