Searching for novel physiological roles of ASK family proteins

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K18872
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biological pharmacy
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: HATTORI KAZUKI 東京大学, 大学院薬学系研究科(薬学部), 助教 (40708575)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ASK1 / 褐色脂肪 / Ucp1 / フェロトーシス / 低温ストレス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is inevitable to discover molecular characteristics of one single molecule if you think it as a therapeutic target for some diseases. Our main target, ASK1, is an oxidative stress-responsive kinase, which mainly regulates cell death process. We hereby revealed the two novel functions of ASK1: (1) ASK1 regulates a specific subset of gene expression including thermo-producing protein, Ucp1, and contributes to thermogenesis in brown adipocytes. (2) Prolonged cold stress actives ASK1-p38 axis, which induces a type of cell death, ferroptosis. These findings provided novel insights to develop therapeutic methods targeting to ASK1, especially in the field of metabolic diseases and tissue preservation.

Free Research Field

生化学、分子生物学