Elucidation of the molecular basis of neural stem cell niche using synthetic polymer arrays

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K14346
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurochemistry/Neuropharmacology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: TAGA Tetsuya 東京医科歯科大学, 難治疾患研究所, 教授 (40192629)
• Research Collaborator: BRADLEY Mark University of Edinburgh, School of Chemistry, Professor
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 神経幹細胞 / ニッチ / 自己複製 / ポリマー / 神経科学 / 発生・分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Neural stem cells (NSCs) require a specific niche for their maintenance. However, its molecular basis is poorly understood. Although conventional approaches have been extensively done, the niche condition is still required to be studied. To solve this problem, we have established a polymer-based microarray system for screening NSC niche-mimicry. NSCs isolated from E14.5 mouse embryos were seeded on a glass slide on which 376 kinds of polymers were spotted. They attached strongly to several kinds of polymers. Among them, one acrylate-based polymer called PA518 maintained self-renewal capacity of NSCs, in spite of the differentiation-inducing FGF2-deficient condition. A control polymer, PA417, without such activity was also selected. Six proteins with different molecular weights were identified by SDS-PAGE of the proteins specifically bound to PA518. These achievements may contribute to the understanding of NSC niche by further study including mass spectrometric analysis.

Free Research Field

幹細胞生物学