Signal characteristics of heatero-receptor coupling and generation of artificial ligand

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K14473
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Functional biochemistry
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Matsumoto Kunio 金沢大学, がん進展制御研究所, 教授 (90201780)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SUGA Hiroaki 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科, 教授 (00361668)
• Research Collaborator: SAKAI Katsuya 金沢大学, がん進展制御研究所, 助教 (10523318)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞増殖因子 / チロシンキナーゼ / 受容体 / サイトカイン / 増殖因子受容体 / シグナル伝達

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Artificial ligands that induce the dimerization of growth factor receptors may be applicable to regenerative medicine, and generation of artificial ligands that have unique and novel biological activities may be possible. We here investigated signal activation by hetero-dimerization between different growth factor receptors. The split luciferase fusion protein system and observation of receptor molecules by atomic force microscopy were performed and determined to be appropriate for evaluation of growth factor receptor dimerization. Hetero-dimer formation between MET, RET, and IGF receptors was induced in cultured cells using FKBP/FRB fusion receptors, however, activation of these receptor and downstream signaling molecules were not seen. Combination of other growth factor receptors seemed to be required to further clarify possibility for generation of artificial ligands capable of inducing hetero-receptor dimerization and activation.

Free Research Field

生物化学・腫瘍生物学