Dynamics and organization of heterogeneous cytoskeletal filaments in cell-sized droplets

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K03760
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 13040:Biophysics, chemical physics and soft matter physics-related
• Research Institution: Yamagata University
• Principal Investigator: Hatori Kuniyuki 山形大学, 大学院理工学研究科, 准教授 (00283036)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞骨格 / モータータンパク質 / 自己組織化 / 中間径フィラメント / 細胞サイズ空間 / アクティブマター / 液液相分離

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study showed that distinctive patterns and organization of cytoskeletal filaments such as desmin intermediate filaments and actin filaments occurred via desmin assembly in water-in-oil droplets which provide a cell-sized shape constraint. In addition, selective interactions between desmin and a phospholipid layer were found. Using fluorescence microscopy, single desmin filaments could be clearly observed; thereby, the interaction between single filaments can be investigated hereafter. We also quantitatively evaluated the inhibitory effect of additive materials bound to actin on the motility of actin filaments interacting with myosin. These results (4 research articles) have been published in peer-reviewed journals.

Free Research Field

生物物理

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

真核細胞内には種々のタンパク質，核酸，脂質等を含み，それらが自発的に細胞小器官等の区画を生成したり，細胞構造や運動に秩序を与えている．この秩序を生み出す要因のひとつに，細胞骨格フィラメント間の相互作用がある．これまでは，個々のフィラメント要素の物性が主な調査対象であったが，本研究により，異種のフィラメント間で生じる弱い相互作用や物性の差を根底にした秩序化の可能性が示され，細胞骨格由来の障害に対する知見や新たな組織材料の開発にひとつの指針を与える．