2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
How the physical properties of cholesterol progressed from those of its ancestor molecules?
Project/Area Number |
19K03762
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Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
Section | 一般 |
Review Section |
Basic Section 13040:Biophysics, chemical physics and soft matter physics-related
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Research Institution | Gunma University |
Principal Investigator |
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Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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Keywords | コレステロール / ラノステロール / モデル生体膜 / 薬剤代謝 / リン脂質 / リン脂質膜 / 生体物性 |
Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Lanosterol is a precursor to the biosynthetic process of cholesterol found in biomembranes. From a molecular evolutionary perspective, it is considered the ancestor molecule of cholesterol. Cholesterol can regulate the physical properties of biomembranes. Through its regulation of membrane properties, it influences the function of biomembranes. In the drug metabolism process, drugs must be incorporated into the lipid bilayer portion of the biomembrane. The effect of sterols on this process was compared between cholesterol and lanosterol. It was found that the effect of lanosterol on the physical properties of model biomembranes was weaker than that of cholesterol. It is thought that cholesterol has become more sophisticated than its ancestor molecule in terms of its effect on the physical properties of biomembranes.
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Free Research Field |
生物物理学
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Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
細胞の膜に含まれるコレステロールは、膜の柔かさ等の膜の性質を調整する役目を果たす。体内で薬剤や毒を分解代謝する過程にも膜が関与し、コレステロールも関係する。生物進化の中で生体分子も進化する。コレステロールはラノステロールという分子から進化してきたとされる。本研究は、薬剤代謝の観点、および、その分子特性からみて、コレステロールがその祖先分子よりも洗練されていることを明きにした。本研究の成果は、薬剤代謝過程に関して、基礎的な知見を与えるものである。
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