Analysis of the effects of lipid environment and structure in the outer segments of vertebrate photoreceptors on light response.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06763
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 44050:Animal physiological chemistry, physiology and behavioral biology-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Tachibanaki Shuji 大阪大学, 生命機能研究科, 准教授 (70324746)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 妹尾 圭司 浜松医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (50283908)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 視細胞 / 錐体 / 桿体 / 光応答 / 脂質環境 / 光情報伝達

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Vertebrates have two types of photoreceptors: cones and rods. Cones and rods are responsible for daytime and nighttime vision, respectively. The sensitivity of cones and rods to light differs greatly. The purpose of this study was to determine how differences in lipid composition, structure, and expressed proteins in the outer segments of each cell affect the formation of cellular responses, particularly differences in sensitivity. The results suggest that the distribution of raft-like regions in the outer segment differs according to the differences in lipid composition of the rod and cone. Experiments with mutant zebrafish also suggested that proteins found to be specifically expressed in the cone outer segments affect cellular responses.

Free Research Field

動物生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

錐体と桿体で光に対する応答の仕方が異なる原因はなにか、について、従来考えられていた光情報伝達機構で働くタンパク質のサブタイプの違い以外にも原因が存在することを示唆する結果を得られた。我々の視覚は、受容体である視細胞の応答特性によって見え方が規定されるが、その成り立ちについて新しい視点が得られた。今後の詳細な検討により、視細胞機能にかぎらず様々な細胞の応答の理解が深まり、また、その改変を検討するときに有力な手がかりを得られるのでは無いかと期待する。