GTR Seminar / Topics in Advanced Biological Science
Date＆Time : Thursday, Apr 9, 2026
10:30 - 12:00
Venue : Science Building G101
Language : English
Organizer: Kentaro Noma ✉ noma.kentaro.f1<at>f.mail.nagoya-u.ac.jp <at>→@
Using C. elegans to study cell fate reprogramming, we previously identified evolutionarily conserved factors that restrict transcription factor (TF) induced direct reprogramming. Systematic investigation of cell fate maintenance using whole-genome genetic screening discovered several factors that block direct reprogramming. These factors are involved in the regulation of chromatin, metabolism, proteostasis, and other cellular processes, including small RNA pathways. Notably, previous studies and ongoing research have revealed that many identified factors
in C. elegans have analogous functions in human cells with respect to cellular reprogramming.
This talk reports on unpublished findings, including the identification of a highly conserved
isocitratedehydrogenase as an impediment to direct reprogramming in living animals. Depletion of this mitochondrial enzyme allows TF-induced conversion of germ cells into neurons in worms. Furthermore, we identified a novel direct reprogramming phenomenon that facilitates us to study extensive morphological changes during direct reprogramming in vivo. In particular, we observe the remarkable generation of an intestinal lumen by a single cell. Additionally, our unique reprogramming system enabled the identification of a small RNA pathway required for cellular conversion.
Overall, C. elegans is a powerful in vivo system for identifying uncharted implications of molecular processes in cellular reprogramming, which may also be highly relevant in reprogramming human cells.
★GTR international students only
This seminar is "GTR Lecture series on multidisciplinary problems (1pt)".
Enroll in gtr e-portfolio (Dead line: Apr.8)．Grades will be judged by report. Report submission from TACT by Apr.23.