Elucidation of the iron metabolism mechanism for geomagnetic sense

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22341
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 40:Forestry and forest products science, applied aquatic science, and related fields
• Research Institution: Fisheries Research and Education Agency
• Principal Investigator: YAMASHITA Michiaki 国立研究開発法人水産研究・教育機構, 水産大学校, 教授 (80344323)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ナノパーティクル / 地磁気感覚 / 微粒子 / 新規物質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A large number of iron nanoparticles with an average diameter of 25-30 nm were extracted and isolated from the fish head. After pronase was used to digest proteins at 60°C, iron nanoparticles can be recovered by adsorption with a magnetic stand. It was possible to purify using the characteristics such as quantitative analysis of iron-containing nanoparticles by single particle ICP-MS revealed that the number of nanoparticles containing iron was about several per larvae of zebrafish and anchovies.

Free Research Field

水圏生命科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

この鉄微粒子は脳または感覚器などの脳神経系の一部の細胞・組織に由来する微少な成分であることが推定された。鉄微粒子は酸化鉄およびタンパク質が検出されることから，生体内で鉄と鉄結合タンパク質を含む複合体として生合成され，磁気に反応する微粒子として存在することが推定された。脊椎動物において未解明の地磁気感覚の分子メカニズムの解明に役立てられる。