| Project/Area Number |
12480240
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Neuroscience in general
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| Research Institution | Kyushu University |
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Principal Investigator |
SUGIYAMA Hiroyuki Kyushu University, Department Biology, Professor, 理学研究院, 教授 (20124224)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
KATOU Akihiko Kyushu University, Department Biology, Assistant, 理学研究院, 助手 (80294875)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2000 – 2002
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2002)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥6,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,100,000)
Fiscal Year 2002: ¥3,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000)
Fiscal Year 2001: ¥3,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000)
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| Keywords | Brain / Neuron / Gene Expression / Electrophysiology / Molecular Biology / Neuroplasticily |
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| Research Abstract |
Synaptic plasticity is considered to be a fundamental mechanism of memory. Long-term memory is based on the reformation of synaptic connections and requires protein synthesis. In this project, we studied how the synaptic activities regulate the gene expression in neurons, and how newly synthesized proteins are localized in certain synapses and modify the properties of the synapses. For this purpose, we analyzed the properties and distribution of a gene called vesl (also termed homer). This gene consists of family genes vesl-1, 2 and 3. Vesl-1 has long and short forms of splice variants, Vesl-1L and Vesl-1S, respectively. Expression of Vesl-1S is usually very low at rest, but transiently induced when neurons are activated to produce strong electrical activities such as long-term potentiation.
We obtained the following results.
1. The level of Vesl-1S protein is regulated mainly by the regulation of the degradation process. In this degradation process, ubiauitin plays an important role as a degradation signal.
2. In cultured hippocampal neurons, phorbol esters or brain-derived neurotrophic factor were found to induce the expression and synaptic localization of Vesl-1S proteins. Analyses of the signal transduction mechanism revealed that the synaptic localization is mediated by the MAP kinase cascade.
3. We found several proteins that interact specifically with Vesl-1L. They include svntaxin 13, and other novel proteins.
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