A new concept of salt handling by Na-binding proteins that immobilize excess Na+ to ease salt stress of seawater teleost fish

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K18575
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Morphology/Structure
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Wong Kwok Shing 東京大学, 大気海洋研究所, 特任助教 (40526901)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: Na-binding molecules / osmoregulation / hypertension / protein purification

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The project established new concept of osmoregulatory strategy by ion-binding in addition to traditional ion transporting. I developed new fixation and florescent methods to observe the Na-binding phenomenon in specific mucus-secreting cell called club cells. I showed the existences of Na-binding molecules at cellular levels and partially purified the molecules from mucus. No consistent peptide sequences could be identified via MS/MS analysis, suggesting the Na-binding molecules could be glycoproteins, glycoaminoglycans, or secondary metabolites. This unexpected results required further investigation and confirmation before publishing. I continue to investigate the molecules after the funding period and I am positive that it will lead to a breakthrough in osmoregulatory physiology and hypertension in general.
I have established domestic and international collaboration, published the results in international journals and, present the topics in domestic and international conferences.

Free Research Field

生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Hypertension is related to Na dysregulation and bound-Na in skin and muscle are the cause of high blood pressure. The Na-binding molecule has not been identified in human, so my work on its identification may contribute to the medical cure for hypertension by solving the mechanism on Na-binding.