| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
HISANAGA Shinichi Tokyo Institute of Technology Lab. Biodynamics. Ass. Prof., 生命理工学部, 助教授 (20181092)
TAKAHASHI Keiichi Tokyo Univ. Zool. Inst. Prof., 理学部, 教授 (40011481)
HAMAGUCHI Yukihisa Tokyo Institute of Technology Biol. Lab. Prof., 理学部, 教授 (70016161)
TSUKITA Shoichiro National Inst. of Physiological Science, Dept of Inform. Physiol. Prof., 生理学研究所, 教授 (50155347)
MABUCHI Issei Tokyo Univ. Dept. of Biol. Ass. Prof., 教養学部, 助教授 (40012520)
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| Research Abstract |
The cytoskeleton is thought to be the integrated system of molecules that provides cells with shape, internal spatial organization, motility, and possibly a means of communication with other cells and the environment. The physical properties of cells such as rigidity and elasticity, are also originated from structure of the cytoskeleton. The major components of the cytoskeleton are considered, contractile proteins, actin-myosin, microtubule-dynein and intermediate filaments. Many functions of the cytoskeleton are thought to be based on the dynamic nature of these molecules, especially tubulin or actin, which assembled into microtubules and actinーfilaments in cells.
We attempt here to study functions of the cytoskeleton by analysing each system, actin-myosin, dynein-microtubule and neurofilament at molecular level, as follows :
1) Dynamic features of microtubules in vitro and the modification by Maps protein and dynein ATP-ase, visualized under a dark-field microscope.
2) Translocation of microtubules and actin filaments in vitro driven by rotational motor proteins, dynein, myosin, and kinesin.
3) Myosin light chain kinase on cell division.
4) Radixin localization in the cell-to-cell adherents junction.
5) Phosphorylation of neurofilaments at localized region and its interaction with microtubules
6) Heterogeneity of microtubules in the mitotic apparatus and its function during cell division.
7) Several characteristics of cell motility, such as, morphological mutants from C6 glioma clonal cells and laminin distribution ; chromotophore movements and skin coloration in fish ; messenger role of Ca in ciliary electromotor coupling.
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