Regulation of microtubule dynamics by EB2/RP1 microtubule binding protein

Research Project

Project/Area Number	18K06118
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Section	一般
Review Section	Basic Section 43030:Functional biochemistry-related
Research Institution	Rikkyo University
Principal Investigator	Higuchi Maiko 立教大学, 理学部, 准教授 (30420235)
Project Period (FY)	2018-04-01 – 2023-03-31
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2022)
Budget Amount *help	¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000) Fiscal Year 2020: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000) Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000) Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
Keywords	細胞運動 / 微小管 / Akt / 細胞極性 / EB2/RP1
Outline of Final Research Achievements	Cells must establish and maintain a front-to-back polarity to achieve directed migration. However, the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. In this study, we examined the roles of the PI3K-Akt pathway in the regulation of a front-to-back polarity and found Akt can regulate microtubule dynamics through phosphorylation EB2/RP1, a member of EB family microtubule associated proteins. This signaling pathway might account for polarized stabilization of microtubules in cell front.
Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements	本研究の成果により、細胞外の環境に応じて細胞が前後の極性と形成・維持する、という細胞にとって非常に重要な機構の解明に貢献することが出来た。さらに、古くからの課題である微小管動態の分子的基盤の新しいメカニズムの理解にも貢献することが出来たと考えている。