X-ray crystallography of molecular complexes regulating vesicular trafficking

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Structural basis of cell-signalling complexes mediating signal perception, transduction and responses
• Project/Area Number: 22121003
• 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: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: FUKAI Shuya 東京大学, 放射光連携研究機構, 准教授 (10361792)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): ATSUSHI Yamagata 東京大学, 放射光連携研究機構, 助教 (20463903) ; SATO Yusuke 東京大学, 放射光連携研究機構, 助教 (50568061)
• Project Period (FY): 2010-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 分子認識 / シグナル伝達 / タンパク質複合体 / X線結晶構造解析 / 構造生物学 / 小胞輸送 / 低分子量GTPase

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Eukaryotic cells are composed of various organelles, which are compartmentalized by lipid bilayer. Therefore, transport between spatially separated organelles is mediated by membrane vesicles. Vesicular transports play critical roles in cellular processes including cell motility, deformation and polarization. In this research project, we revealed some of the regulatory mechanisms for vesicular transport at the atomic resolution level by X-ray crystallography of molecular complexes that are involved in vesicular transport. Moreover, technology platform that has been developed through this project was applied to collaborative researches to elucidate protein complex-mediated regulatory mechanisms for other cellular functions.

Free Research Field

構造生物学