Mechanism of organ and body size regulation by actin polymerization

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K07352
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 48040:Medical biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: Asaoka Yoichi 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 講師 (10436644)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: YAP / メカノホメオスターシス / 臓器・個体サイズ制御 / ゼブラフィッシュ / メダカ / 組織再生 / 力学計測系

Outline of Final Research Achievements

(1) In order to understand the YAP mechanohomeostasis in the process of 3D organ/tissue formation, I tried to set up a system to directly measure the mechanical properties of organ/tissue. Applying the methods of the Campas et al.(Campas et al Nat. Methods 2014) for the quantification of mechanical forces during early embryogenesis, I was able to measure the physical properties of the medaka YAP mutant embryos.
(2) I tried to establish a system to measure the mechanical properties of tail fin in adult fish during a long period. By establishing a perfusion system of breeding water containing the anaesthetic for long-term time-lapse imaging, I succeeded in measuring mechanical properties (viscoelasticity) in regenerating tail fin.

Free Research Field

発生生物学、分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現在、力学恒常性の観点からの病因解明・治療法開発は遅れており、本研究成果を通して得られる力学恒常性の作動原理の理解は、組織の硬さというこれまでとは視点の異なる新しい標的を狙ったがん治療法にも応用できるという意義がある。がんの成立過程においては、粘弾性の他にも圧力や張力などさまざまな生体組織の力学特性を把握することが不可欠であり、組織の時空間的な力学特性の経時的計測技術を確立することも今後の必須の課題であると考える。