Morphology and characteristics of membranes directed by lipoquality

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Quality of lipids in biological systems
• Project/Area Number: 15H05902
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: Juntendo University (2019); Nagoya University (2015-2018)
• Principal Investigator: Fujimoto Toyoshi 順天堂大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 特任教授 (50115929)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 末次 志郎 奈良先端科学技術大学院大学, 先端科学技術研究科, 教授 (70345031)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-06-29 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 膜脂質 / 細胞膜 / 電子顕微鏡 / BARタンパク質 / エンドフィリン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Based on a special electron microscopic technique using quick-frozen cells, new methods were established to enable observation of nano-scale distribution of functionally important phospholipids, including phosphatidylserine, in cellular membranes. By using the new method, TMEM16K, a protein in the endoplasmic reticulum, was revealed to have a function of induce redistribution of phospholipids in intracellular membranes. The membrane shaping by the membrane binding proteins were studied and membrane properties dependent on the lipid species were found to play crucial roles. Several new membrane shaping proteins and their membrane shaping mechanisms were revealed.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

燐脂質は細胞を形成する生体膜の主要成分であるが、その細胞内分布を正確かつ詳細に解析できる方法はほとんどない。我々はホスファチジルセリンなどの燐脂質の超微細分布を観察する方法を確立することに成功した。この方法を用いることにより、TMEM16Kというタンパク質が細胞内のホスファチジルセリン分布を制御する機能を持つことを明らかにした。また食物中に含まれる脂質が生体膜中の脂質組成を変化させ、その結果として生体膜の形態、ひいては細胞の形態形成に影響を与える仕組みが明らかになった。