Synapse maintenance by afadin and its binding proteins

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K19036
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General medical chemistry
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Maruo Tomohiko 神戸大学, 医学研究科, 医学研究員 (10625114)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 海馬苔状線維シナプス / 加齢 / アファディン / ネクチン / マギン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The investigations using knockout mice of afadin and its binding protein MAGUIN revealed that proteins localized at puncta adherentia junctions (PAJs) regulate synapse formation, maintenance, and resultant functions. On the other hand, synaptic junctions and PAJs are unexpectedly stable in the aged mouse hippocampus under the normal housing condition. There were quantitative alterations, to some extent, of PAJ protein accumulation at the sites of the hippocampal giant mossy fiber synapses, although further experiments would be required to clarify the functional significance of these changes. Toward this aim, I will study aged-afadin and MAGUIN knockout mice, and mouse models in which PAJ protein accumulation is affected.

Free Research Field

神経細胞生物学、生化学