Development of a method to detect heterogeneity of Smad transcriptional complexes

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K19589
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Tumor biology and related fields
• Research Institution: University of Yamanashi
• Principal Investigator: MIYAZAWA Keiji 山梨大学, 大学院総合研究部, 教授 (40209896)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-06-30 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: TGF-β / Smad / DNA aptamer

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Signaling of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is mediated by Smad complexes. In the present study, we screened DNA aptamers that can specifically interact with distinct subsets of Smad complexes. We found that DNA aptamers that can interact with transcriptionally active Smad complexes contain G-rich sequences. Their affinities were not high enough to pull down Smad complexes. However, the results suggest a possibility that Smad proteins can interact with G-quadruplex.

Free Research Field

基礎医学、生化学、腫瘍生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

TGF-βはがんをはじめとする様々な疾病への関与が指摘されている細胞増殖因子である。そのシグナル伝達に関与するSmad複合体がグアニン四重鎖構造と相互作用する可能性が示唆され、研究の新たな展開に寄与することが期待される。