Elucidation of the voltage and pH sensor mechanism of the voltage-gated H+ channel

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H03403
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 48020:Physiology-related
• Research Institution: Kagawa University
• Principal Investigator: Fujiwara Yuichiro 香川大学, 医学部, 教授 (20532980)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: イオンチャネル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Voltage-gated H+ channels (Hv channels) are present in phagocytic cells and regulate their activity in response to the pH and membrane potential of the external environment. Experiments were conducted to learn more about the mechanism of the Hv channel sensor mechanism. Electrophysiological functional analysis of controlled intracellular and extracellular pH and electrophysiological measurement of charge transfer in the potential sensor revealed that Hv channels have the ability to sense intracellular and extracellular pH gradients and membrane potential gradients. The mechanism revealed that the absolute pH sensing function influences the membrane potential sensor function (movement of the potential sensor), thereby exerting its ability to sense pH gradients.

Free Research Field

生理学、生物物理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究でHvチャネルは、細胞内外の絶対的pHが電位センサーの動きを制御することによって、チャネル活性を制御することが分かった。Hvチャネルは細胞内外の環境変化を感知し、貪食細胞の機能制御に重要な役割を果たしている。今後の研究では、Hvチャネルの活性制御メカニズムや関与するシグナル伝達経路の詳細な解明、Hvチャネルの他のセンサー機能との関連を解明、他の生物学的プロセスや疾患における役割の特定が期待される。この研究は貪食細胞の機能解明や関連疾患の治療法の開発に貢献する可能性がある。