Molecular mechanism of synapse formed between neuron and oligodendrocyte precursor cell

• Project/Area Number: 26893316
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Pharmacology in pharmacy
• Research Institution: Fukuoka University
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Takuya 福岡大学, 薬学部, 助教 (90509647)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-08-29 – 2016-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2015)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,730,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥630,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
• Keywords: neuroligin / oligodendrocyte / オリゴデンドロサイト

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) demonstrate altered volume of white matter. But that mechanism is unknown. White matter is composed of oligodendrocytes. Therefore a function of neuroligin 3, which mutations of that gene is found in ASD, in differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) was examined. OPC expressed neuroligin 3 and responded to glutamate via AMPA type glutamate receptor. Function of neuroligin 3 in OPC differentiation because expression level of neuroligin 3 could not be regulated using gene transfection. We should modify experimental condition.