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2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Elucidation of mechanotransduction mechanisms with visualization of molecules

Research Project

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Project/Area Number 19H01020
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Review Section Medium-sized Section 48:Biomedical structure and function and related fields
Research InstitutionKyoto University

Principal Investigator

Watanabe Naoki  京都大学, 生命科学研究科, 教授 (80303816)

Project Period (FY) 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
Keywordsメカノトランスダクション / アクチン重合 / ブラウンラチェット / 動的不安定性 / 超解像可視化用プローブ / がん治療キナーゼ阻害薬 / 逆説的標的分子活性化 / アロステリック作用
Outline of Final Research Achievements

This project aimed to elucidate mechanotransduction mechanisms by fluorescence single-molecule imaging. First, the actin plus-end in contact with the leading-edge plasma membrane was found to function as a Brownian ratchet-based force sensor, driving cell protrusion in response to traction force. Second, at the leading edge, newly-polymerized actin was found to disassemble quickly (~15% within a half second), which shares similarity with dynamic instability of microtubules. Third, several methods to develop fluorescent probes optimized for original multi-target super-resolution microscopy IRIS have been devised. Fourth, anti-cancer kinase inhibitors were found to allosterically activate its target c-Src and promote the complex formation with FAK at focal adhesions. In cells harboring drug-resistant mutation in SRC gene, kinase inhibitors prematurely dissociate from the Src-FAK complex, leading to tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK and paradoxical cancer cell proliferation.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

細胞先導端に接するアクチン重合端が単に押す力を発生するのみならず、力のセンサーとして細胞伸展を制御するしくみの発見は、細胞・組織再生の力学的制御への応用開発に潜在的な可能性がある。また、がん治療薬の予期せぬ副作用のメカニズムの発見は、使用上の注意を促すだけでなく、低分子量阻害薬の特異性スペクトラムをどう改良すべきについての再考を促すとともに、阻害薬をベースとした細胞シグナルの部分的活性薬開発の可能性も示唆している。IRIS用プローブの既存のモノクローナル抗体からの迅速改良法と合わせ、今後個体レベルの解析・臨床応用が期待される複数の原理が、細胞分子イメージングによる直接観察から得られた。

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Published: 2023-01-30  

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