Molecular analysis of cell fusion events during myogenesis

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K12580
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Kametaka Satoshi 名古屋大学, 医学系研究科(保健), 教授 (10303950)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 骨格筋 / 再生 / 筋芽細胞 / 細胞膜融合 / C2C12

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To uncover the molecular mechanisms of myoblast fusion events, we firstly established a novel assay system to monitor the cell fusion of cultured myoblast C2C12 cells. Using this system, we searched for new genes and compounds that affects the cell fusion of C2C12, and GGA1, a clathrin adaptor commonly expressed in eukaryotic cells was identified. GGA1 expression was found to be up-regulated during myogenesis of C2C12. Silencing of GGA1 caused reduction of myotube formation and we found that depletion of GGA1 caused decrease of cell surface expression of insulin receptor. We also identified a compound that has a potential to inhibit myogenesis and its molecular action is under investigation.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学、解剖学