Studies on the molecular mechanism of lipid mediated sensory system

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K23790
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0704:Neuroscience, brain sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: National Institute for Physiological Sciences (2020); Center for Novel Science Initatives, National Institutes of Natural Sciences (2019)
• Principal Investigator: SUITO Takuto 生理学研究所, 生体機能調節研究領域, NIPSリサーチフェロー (80847723)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: ショウジョウバエ / 感覚神経 / 感覚受容 / 脂質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we focused on the functional relationships between lipid regulation and sensory function of Drosophila melanogaster. Firstly, we performed transcriptome analysis of several types of thermo- and mechano-sensory neurons. We found that the expression of several types of lipid metabolic genes were upregulated in the sensory neurons. Secondary, we conducted an RNAi screening for thermoregulatory behavior targeting to about 50 genes whose expression are remarkably high in the peripheral sensory neurons. We have finally identified the several lipid regulatory genes which affect the thermoregulatory behavior in 3rd instar larvae.

Free Research Field

脂質生化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では網羅的な遺伝子のスクリーニングから多様な脂質制御遺伝子が感覚神経において特異的に機能している可能性を見出した。さらに、機能的スクリーニングによって体温調節機構を制御する新規の脂質分子代謝機構の存在が明らかとなった。
これらの結果から、感覚を制御する新たな因子が明らかとなった。さらに温度受容だけでなく他の物理刺激受容との関連性やその分子基盤を明らかにすることで、感覚受容の分子メカニズムの包括的理解に繋げていきたい。