Development of luminescent prove for inter-cellular communications

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K07040
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cell biology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: SAITO Kenta 東京医科歯科大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 助教 (60374659)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): TERADA Sumio 東京医科歯科大学, 大学院医歯学総合研究科, 教授 (00262022)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞間相互作用 / 神経シナプス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, I have developed the functional probe to visualize neural synapse, which is a typical inter-cellular communication in multi-cellular organisms. By using the molecules specifically localizing in pre- or post-synapse, fluorescent or bio-luminescent molecules were exposed in synapse. Probe was optimized by assessing the signal strength at contact sites between probe expressing culture cells. The optimized probe successfully visualized the synapse in mouse hippocampal primary culture neurons. Signal formation and dis-formation were seen in time-lapse imaging. Synaptic signal transduction from pre- to post-synapse at signal site was confirmed by optogenetics.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学