Exosome-mediated methylmercury detoxification in zebrafish embryos

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K07593
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Aquatic life science
• Research Institution: Fisheries Research and Education Agency
• Principal Investigator: Shintaro Imamura 国立研究開発法人水産研究・教育機構, 中央水産研究所, 主任研究員 (80510007)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: エキソソーム / メチル水銀 / ゼブラフィッシュ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Exosomes are extracellular small granule vesicles produced by cells, and might mediate a signal transduction mechanisms to transfer the information between cells and organisms. They contain various molecular constituents, such as, proteins, DNA, mRNA and miRNA, and transfer molecules from cells through membrane vesicle trafficking. We found that exosomes were secreted by methylmercury (MeHg) treatment in zebrafish embryos,and the exosomes had protective functions. To visualize the dynamics of exosomes in vivo, cd63-GFP expressing zebrafish lines were used. Proteomic analysis of exosomes revealed that MeHg induced proteins were identified,and sensitivity to MeHg was associated with the presence of these proteins. These results indicated that exosome-mediated inter-individual communication played an important role under stress conditions.

Free Research Field

分子生物学