Development of membrane-protein handling and measurement techniques for elucidation of supramolecular mechanisms of inner ear amplification

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17H04739
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Biomedical engineering/Biomaterial science and engineering
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University (2019-2020); Kagoshima University (2017-2018)
• Principal Investigator: Murakoshi Michio 金沢大学, 理工研究域フロンティア工学系, 准教授 (70570901)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 聴覚 / 内耳増幅 / 感覚細胞 / タンパク質モーター / 分子メカニズム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the present study, we focused on the motor protein “prestin” expressed in the sensory cells in the inner ear. A method to handle its structure and function and a measurement technique to detect them were investigated to elucidate the mechanisms of sound perception and to develop new biodevices. Mammalian cell lines which stably express prestin with a marker peptide tag were constructed and a prestin molecule was pulled out from the plasma membrane of these cells. The force-extension curves obtained demonstrated the membrane structure of prestin.

Free Research Field

生体工学，機械力学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

プレスチンは，2000年にその遺伝子が同定されて以来，その構造と機能について研究されてきたが，未だ解明されておらず，そのため我々の音受容メカニズムは解明されていない．従来の手法では多量のタンパク質溶液や結晶化等が必要であったため，プレスチンには適さなかった．本研究で新たに提案した手法により，比較的少量かつ結晶化なしに膜内構造を分析できることが示唆された．またこれにより得られた結果は音受容メカニズムの全容解明に貢献するとともに，遺伝性難聴や老人性難聴のメカニズム解明とその治療法開発に貢献できると期待される．