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ROLE OF SIF PROTEIN IN SYNAPTOGENESIS

Research Project

Project/Area Number 09680784
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Neurochemistry/Neuropharmacology
Research InstitutionNATIONAL CENTER OF NEUROLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY

Principal Investigator

HAMA Chihiro  DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR GENETICS,NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROSCIENCE,NATIONAL CENTER OF NEUROLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY, SECTION CHIEF, 神経研究所・遺伝子工学, 室長 (50238052)

Project Period (FY) 1997 – 1998
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1998)
Budget Amount *help
¥3,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,300,000)
Fiscal Year 1998: ¥1,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000)
Fiscal Year 1997: ¥2,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000)
KeywordsGUANINE NUCLEOTIDE EXCHANGE FACTOR / RHO / MUTATION / DROSOPHILA / NERVOUS SYSTEM / PLASTICITY / SYNAPSE / SIF / SIFタンパク質 / still life / GTPase / 分子生物学
Research Abstract

We are interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate synaptogenesis. To approach this issue, we have employed genetics of Drosophila and screened mutant flies that show reduced locomotor activity at the adult stage. One of the mutant strains idetified during this screening is still life (sit), which was later found to encode a gulanine nucleotide exchange factor that specifically reacts for Rac1 in vitro. Interestingly, this protein was found to localize at the submemebraneous regions of the periactive zones that surround the active zones in the synaptic terminals. The goal of this project is to reveal the in vivo function of SIF protein in the synaptic terminals by analyzing the sif mutant animals.
Our genetic screen to 9000 chromosomes treated with ethylmethane sulfonate, a chemical mutagen, successfully identifed more than 10 sif mutant alleles. Western blotting and sequencing analyses further revealed that 2 of them have terminal-codon mutations, each causing functional null. These mutant animals are not homozygously lethal but show reduced locomotor activity. We have not so far succeeded in identifying clear morphological phenotypes at both light and electron microscopic levels. It is however possible that sif may be involved in refinement of synaptic arborization that occurrs during synaptogenesis or responding to neural activity. To test this hypothesis, we have tried to visualize a small number of neurites in the adult brain using GFP and to find any effects of sif mutation on their morphology.

Report

(3 results)
  • 1998 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1997 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (6 results)

All Other

All Publications (6 results)

  • [Publications] Mikio Hoshino: "Neural Expression of Hikaru Genki Protein during Embryonic and Larval Development of Drosophila melanogaster" Development Genes and Evolution. 209. 1-9 (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1998 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Mikio Hoshino: "Identification of the stef gene that encodes a novel guanine-nucleotide exchange factor specific foRocl" J.Biol.Chem.in press. (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1998 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Hoshino, M., Suzuki, E., Miyake, T., Sone, M., Komatsu, A., Nabeshima, Y., & Hama, C.: "Neural Expression of Hikaru Genki Protein during Embryonic and Larval Development of Drosophilamelanogaster." Dev.Genes Evol.209. 1-9 (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1998 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Hoshino, M., Sone, M., Fukata, M., Kuroda, S., Kaibuchi, K., Nabeshima, Y., and Hama, C.: "Identification of the stef gene that encodes a novel guanine-nucleotid exchange factor specific for Racl." J.Biol.Chem.(in press.).

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1998 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Mikio Hoshino: "Neural Expression of Hikaru Genki Protein during Embryonic and Larral Development of Drosophila melanogaster" Development Genes and Evolution. 209. 1-9 (1999)

    • Related Report
      1998 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Masaki,Sone: "Still life,a Protein in Synaptic Terminals of Drosophila Homologous to GDP-GTP Exchangers." Science. 275. 543-547 (1997)

    • Related Report
      1997 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1997-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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