Structural biology of animal and plant signaling proteins

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Structural basis of cell-signalling complexes mediating signal perception, transduction and responses
• Project/Area Number: 22121002
• 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: Nara Institute of Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Hakoshima Toshio 奈良先端科学技術大学院大学, バイオサイエンス研究科, 教授 (00164773)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MISHIMA MASAKI 首都大学東京, 理工学研究科, 准教授 (70346310)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): HIRANO YOSHINORI 奈良先端科学技術大学院大学, バイオサイエンス研究科, 助教 (50452529)
• Project Period (FY): 2010-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 構造生物学 / 生化学 / 細胞生物学 / 分子生物学 / 生物物理学 / タンパク質 / 相互作用

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We pursued structural studies of signaling protein complexes important in cell biology of mammalian and plant cells. Using X-ray crystallography, we revealed three-dimensional structures of the PHCCEx domain of RacGEF Tiam1, the cargo-recognition domain of myosin-X and mechano-sensing domain of a-catenin. We also determined the structures of medically important complexes, the trimeric G protein Gq-YM254890, merlin-DCAF-1 and thalidomide-celeblon complexes. Our contribution to plant biology is based on our structure determination of receptors of newly-established hormones, strigolactone and karrikin receptors.

Free Research Field

生物科学（構造生物化学　生物物理学）