From People - School of Science, The University of Tokyo
平良 眞規 (たいら まさのり)
TAIRA, Masanori
| Title | Associate Professor |
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| Affiliation | Department of Biological Sciences (Zoological Science), Graduate School of Science |
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| Room | 65, Faculty of Science Bldg.2, BF |
| TEL | +81-3-5841-4434 24434 (ext.) |
Research Field
Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology, Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Research Subject
Analysis of Molecular Mechanisms of the Early Vertebrate Development using Xenopus laevis, Evolution of Molecular Mechanisms of the Gastrula Organizer
Current Research
In order to clarify the molecular mechanisms of the early development of vertebrates, we are analyzing them by molecular biology approaches based on EvoDevo perspectives. Focusing on the formation and functions of the Spemann-Mangold organizer, neuralization, brain pattern formation, and morphogenetic movement, we use Xenopus laevis and X. tropicalis as model animals for the identification and functional analysis of developmental control genes, which encode inducers, signaling transducers, nuclear inner membrane proteins, and transcription factors. The goal of our research is to decipher the ‘common language of developmental program” for eumetazoans. The evolutionary path is expected to come into view by comparing various eumetazoans including sea anemone, sea urchin and ascidian. We are also investigating when and how the Spemann-Mangold organizer (gastrula organizer) evolved, by mainly focusing on the Lhx1/Lim1 homeobox gene.
Keywords
Neuralization, Body axis formation, Pattern formation, Homeobox gene, bHLH transcription factor, Signal transduction, Cell polarity, Nuclear inner membrane protein, Lhx1/Lim1, Nemp1, Wnt, sFRP, Mex3b, XHR1/hes7.1