Development of transmembrane peptide promoting lipid flip-flop in the plasma membrane

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16086
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 43040:Biophysics-related
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: Nakao Hiroyuki 富山大学, 学術研究部薬学・和漢系, 助教 (00805020)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 脂質スクランブリング / フリップフロップ / ホスファチジルセリン / 細胞貪食 / マクロファージ / 膜貫通ペプチド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Phosphatidylserine is localized in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane in eukaryotic cells. Lipid scrambling (lipid mixing of inner and outer layers) causes the exposure of phosphatidylserine on the cell surface. Exposed phosphatidylserine plays important roles in various physiological processes such as platelet aggregation and apoptosis. In this study, we demonstrated that addition of a de novo designed peptide to the cultured cells exposed phosphatidylserine on the outer leaflet in the plasma membrane. Furthermore, we succeeded in inducing phagocytosis by macrophages through the artificial lipid scrambling.

Free Research Field

生物物理化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ホスファチジルセリンの露出はマクロファージによる貪食だけでなく、血小板凝集、骨ミネラル化、筋細胞の融合など様々な生命現象に関わる。すなわち、本研究で開発した脂質スクランブリングペプチドを用いれば、これらの生命現象を制御することが可能になる。また、部位特異的に送達することができれば、がんや脂質スクランブリングが関わる疾患の治療薬にもなりうる。