Study of cellular response to excess Tryptophan

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K14432
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 38060:Applied molecular and cellular biology-related
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: Ohashi Kazuto 群馬大学, 生体調節研究所, 助教 (30775862)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: トリプトファン / アミノ酸 / 出芽酵母

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Tryptophan (Trp) is an essential amino acid for living organisms, but excessive accumulation of Trp can be toxic. Also, it has been suggested that excessive accumulation of Trp is associated with various pathological conditions. However, the cause of toxicity due to excess Trp was unknown. In this study, we obtained the results showing that the cause of excessive Trp toxicity is inhibition of an intracellular signal transduction. Furthermore, it was suggested that the existence of a cellular response mechanism that eliminates excess Trp accumulation since degradation pathway of Trp and biosynthesis of organic acids which is necessary for the Trp degradation were required for tolerance to excess Trp.

Free Research Field

農芸化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

トリプトファン (Trp) の蓄積やTrpの過剰摂取が有害であることは古くから知られていたが、その原因はよく分かっていなかった。本研究では、過剰なTrpによる細胞毒性の原因を明らかにした。この知見を発展させることにより、Trpの蓄積を伴う病態の理解が深まり、その治療にも貢献することが期待される。さらに、補助的な栄養素としてのTrpの安全な利用にも貢献すると期待される。