2026-10-30 千葉大学
図1：加齢に伴う染色体接着の破綻と染色体分配エラー
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.chiba-u.ac.jp/news/research-collab/omc1.html
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-026-01245-5
卵母細胞特異的OMC1は、生殖期を通して染色体凝集性を維持するために必要である Oocyte-specific OMC1 is required for maintaining chromosome cohesion through reproductive life
Sakie Iisaka, Shuhei Yoshida, Ryuki Shimada, Tappei Mishina, Sayoko Fujimura, Manami Koshiguchi, Ryuichi Kimura, Shinya Oki, Kimi Araki, Tomoya S. Kitajima & Kei-ichiro Ishiguro
Nature Aging Published:29 October 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-026-01245-5
Abstract
In mammals, oocytes initiate meiosis during fetal development and then enter a prolonged meiotic arrest. During this female-specific long-term arrest, chromosome cohesion mediated by nonrenewable REC8 cohesin gradually deteriorates, predisposing oocytes to age-associated chromosome segregation errors when meiosis resumes for maturation in adulthood. Female-specific factors that counteract this deterioration remain unknown. Here we identify OMC1 as an oocyte-specific chromosomal protein required for the maintenance of chromosome cohesion through reproductive life. OMC1 associates with REC8-cohesin-containing chromosome axes from fetal stages through adult meiotic maturation. Using Omc1 knockout mice, we show that OMC1 is required for cohesin maintenance until completion of meiotic maturation, thereby suppressing age-associated chromosome segregation errors. These findings provide insight into the female germ-cell-intrinsic molecular basis that supports reproductive longevity by suppressing age-associated chromosome cohesion loss, which leads to egg aneuploidy, a major cause of infertility and congenital disorders.
