| Budget Amount *help |
¥332,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥256,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥76,800,000)
Fiscal Year 2006: ¥81,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥63,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥18,900,000)
Fiscal Year 2005: ¥81,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥63,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥18,900,000)
Fiscal Year 2004: ¥81,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥63,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥18,900,000)
Fiscal Year 2003: ¥87,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥67,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥20,100,000)
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| Research Abstract |
1) αN-catenin is a cadherin-associated protein. We found that this protein is essential for the stability of synaptic contacts in hippocampal neurons.
2) Fat1 is a member of the cadherin superfamily. We showed that this large non-classic cadherin is localized at the basal portions of cell-cell contact, and regulates actin polymerization via its binding to Ena/VASP proteins.
3) We identified the role of the Cdc42-specific Rho GEF "Tuba". This enzyme regulates tension of cell-cell junctions, acting upstream of the Cdc42-N-WASP signaling pathway.
4) We discovered an unexpected movement of cadherin molecules at cell junctions, which was designated as "cadherin flow". This flow is mediated by retrograde actin flow, which also occurs at cell-cell contact sites.
5) We disclosed a novel signaling pathway for gene transcription in hippocampal neurons. Activation of the NMDA receptor resulted in N-terminal truncations of β-catenin, and the cleaved β-catenin was translocated into nuclei This process subsequently activated expression of the Fral gene. We also showed that this gene activation system also occurs in vivo.
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