Appled Animal Genetics

• Japanese

Applied Animal Genetics

• HP URL： Applied Animal Genetics

Staff

	Prof. Dr. KUNIEDA Tetsuo E-mail： tkunieda＠（@okayama-u.ac.jp） Specialties： Animal Genetics, Laboratory Animal Science Molecular genetic analysis of animal models for human diseases Establishment of genetic diagnoses for hereditary diseases in livestock
	Assoc. Prof. Dr. TSUJI Takehito E-mail： takehito＠（@okayama-u.ac.jp） Specialties： Animal Genetics, Laboratory Animal Science Molecular genetic analysis of animal models for human diseases (skeletal disorders and female infertility)

Research Topics

We have been studying the genes involved in specific genetic traits such as hereditary diseases in experimental animals and livestock to elucidate the genetic factors of diseases of humans and animals. We clarify pathology and genetic factors of diseases by utilizing specific mutations that arose in the genome of experimental animals such as mice, and we establish animal models for human disease from these mutant animals. Specifically, we aim to elucidate the physiological functions of the genes involved in reproductive functions including gametogenesis and morphogenetic regulation including bone formation using mutant mice. Moreover, we establish genetic diagnoses for the prevention of inherited disorders in livestock.

Elucidation of molecular mechanisms of gametogenesis using mutant mice

Gametes such as sperm and eggs are formed by a series of complicated processes through a special cell division called meiosis. Clarification of the genes involved in these processes not only elucidates the molecular mechanisms of differentiation and meiosis of germ cells but also contributes to the establishment of therapeutic strategies and preventive measures for infertility in humans and reproductive disorders in livestock. We identify the genes involved in gametogenesis using mutant mice and knockout mice that genetically develop abnormalities in the process of spermatogenesis and oogenesis.

Molecular genetic studies of inherited disorders in animals

In recent years, significant occurrences of inherited disorders have been reported in livestock. These diseases are seriously affecting the industries from an economical aspect as well. We aim to produce healthy livestock through the elucidation of the genes causing these diseases. Specifically, we are making an effort in studies for the establishment of genetic diagnoses for identifying carriers of inherited disorders. For this purpose, we identify mutations causing the inherited disorders in the genome of affected animals and establish a method to detect the mutation.

Publication List

• t-SNARE Syntaxin2 (STX2) is implicated in intracellular transport of sulfoglycolipids during meiotic prophase in mouse spermatogenesis. Fujiwara Y, Ogonuki N, Inoue K, Ogura A, Handel MA, Noguchi J, Kunieda T. Biol Reprod. 88: 141, 2013.
• CNP/NPR2 signaling maintains oocyte meiotic arrest in early antral follicles and is suppressed by EGFR-mediated signaling in preovulatory follicles. Tsuji T, Kiyosu C, Akiyama K, Kunieda T. Mol Reprod Dev. 79: 795-802, 2012.
• A missense mutation of the Dhh gene is associated with male pseudohermaphroditic rats showing impaired Leydig cell development. Kawai Y, Noguchi J, Akiyama K, Takeno Y, Fujiwara Y, Kajita S, Tsuji T, Kikuchi K, Kaneko H, Kunieda T.Reproduction. 141: 217-225, 2011.
• A mutation of the WFDC1 gene is responsible for multiple ocular defects in cattle. Abbasi AR, Khalaj M, Tsuji T, Tanahara M, Uchida K, Sugimoto Y, Kunieda T. Genomics 94: 55-62, 2009.
• Characterization of the dwg mutations: dwg and dwg(Bayer) are new mutant alleles of the Ggt1 gene. Tsuji T, Yamada K, and Kunieda T. Mamm Genome. 58: 525-532, 2009.
• A loss-of-function mutation in natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (Npr2) gene is responsible for disproportionate dwarfism in cn/cn mouse. Tsuji T. and Kunieda T. J Biol Chem. 280: 14288-14292, 2005.
• Essential role of Fkbp6 in male fertility and homologous chromosome pairing in meiosis. Crackower MA, Kolas NK, Noguchi J, Sarao R, Kikuchi K, Kaneko H, Kobayashi E, Kawai Y, Kozieradzki I, Landers R, Mo R, Hui CC, Nieves E, Cohen PE, Osborne LR, Wada T, Kunieda T, Moens PB, Penninger JM. Science. 300: 1291-1295, 2003.
• Positional Cloning of a Novel Gene, LIMBIN, Responsible for Bovine Chondrodysplastic Dwarfism. Takeda H, Takami M, Oguni T, Tsuji T, Yoneda K, Sato H, Ihara N, Itoh T, Kata SR, Mishina Y, Womack JE, Moritomo Y, Sugimoto Y, Kunieda T. Proc Natl Sci Acad USA. 99: 10549-10554, 2002.