G0 Cell Unit Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
Schizosaccharomyces Pombe

Research outline

Cell growth and multiplication are a central problem in biology. Our proposal is focused on the adaptation strategy for cell cycle arrest by nutrient starvation and the re-initiation of growth when starved cells are returned to a rich medium. We want to investigate the molecular-switch problem: how cells can control and execute an arrest at the G0-like differentiated state, and how cell growth and division resumes when the nutritional environment improves. Understanding the transition from the G0-arrest to growing states at the molecular level is the purpose of this proposal.

We will employ post-genomic methods that produce quantitative information about individual genes in combination with genetic approaches using fission yeast as a model organism. If clear mechanistic principle emerges from these studies, we plan to extend the knowledge obtained to mammalian cell systems, using sets of conserved gene products. We aim to identify and characterize genes that command the G0-like cell stage or the return to growth. Our proposal has implications in broad research areas: cell cycle control, developmental biology, cancer research, chromosome biology, genome science and systems biology.

Research goals

Cell fates of fission yeast

What is G0?

G0 is a cell cycle stage, when cells cease division and remain in quiescent state.

Cell cycle

As most cells of adult human body (brain, muscle, nerve...) are in G0 phase, it is important to understand how G0 phase is regulated.

Model organism

We use the fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) as a model organism, all the ~4900 genes of which has been assigned from the whole genome.

Human
(Homo sapiens)		 Fission yeast
(Schizosaccharomyces pombe)
Human Fission yeast
~ 30,000 genes
Genome size: 3 billion bp 		~ 4,900 genes
Genome size: 14 million bp
  • The simplest unicellular eukaryote
  • Convenient for genetic analysis and handling
  • Whole genome sequenced
  • Easy to swich between growing and quiescent states

Strategy

Expected outcome

Any essential progress in a basic "Cell growth and arrest" problem has certain impacton life science and will be welcome by human society. Control of cell growth has many application areas in medicine and biotechnology.

Cancer therapy
Suppressing abnormal cell multiplication
Regeneration medicine
Controlling cell multiplication
Organ transplant
Suppressing immune cells

References