Elucidating the force-based mechanisms regulating nuclear structure and function

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K14515
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cell biology
• Research Institution: National Institute of Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Shimamoto Yuta 国立遺伝学研究所, 新分野創造センター, 准教授 (80409656)
• Research Collaborator: MAESHIMA Kazuhiro 国立遺伝学研究所, 生体高分子研究室, 教授 ; TAMURA Sachiko 国立遺伝学研究所, 生体高分子研究室, テクニシャン ; MASUMOTO Hiroshi 長崎大学, 医学部, 講師
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞核 / 機械計測 / クロマチン / マイクロマニピュレーション / 力学特性 / ヒストン / DNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study focused on elucidating the physical and molecular basis underlying nuclear mechanical response, with an ultimate goal to understand cell’s mechanotransduction mechanisms. It had long been recognized that mechanical force acting on a cell can transmit across the cytoplasm and alter the structure and function of the nucleus. However, it was largely unknown how the nucleus resists and responds to the force, due primarily to the lack of a suitable assay. To address this, we developed a microneedle-based micromanipulation setup and quantitatively examined the mechanical response of human cell nuclei, such as those of HeLa cells. Combining biochemical perturbation assays, our measurements revealed that chromatin can respond to stretching force that acts on the nucleus, and that the chromatin’s response to force is significantly suppressed upon digestion of DNA or acetylation of histones.

Free Research Field

生物物理学、細胞生物学