Regulation of tissue-specific microtubule arrays

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06616
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 44010:Cell biology-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Haruta Nami 東北大学, 生命科学研究科, 助教 (70381671)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 微小管 / gamma-tubulin complex / C.elegans

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Microtubule (MT) plays various roles in cellular functions such as cytokinesis, establishment of cell polarity and morphogenesis. The γ-tubulin complex (γTuC) is a major nucleation factor of MTs. We identified GTAP-1 and GTAP-2 as a novel component of C. elegans γ-tubulin complex (γTuC) for the efficient recruitment of γTuC to the centrosomes. To characterize the role of GTAP-1 and GTAP-2 in germline, we constructed the strain expressing fluorescent-tagged marker protein and observed with wild-type, gtap-1 and gtap-2 background. The gtap-1 mutant showed abnormal germline morphology and abnormal laid eggs in age-dependent manner. Even though both GTAP-1 and GTAP-2 involved in the efficient recruitment of the γ-tubulin onto plasma membrane of germline, only GTAP-1 might be involved the regulation of γTuC. These results indicate that GTAP-1 and GTAP-2 has different roles in the non-centrosomal MTOC in the specific tissues.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究から、γ-チューブリン複合体（γTuC）構成因子であるGTAP-1とGTAP-2の生殖腺膜上の微小管形成中心における役割が明確に異なることが分かった。さらにγ-チューブリンの局在量と微小管の表現型とが一致しないことから、局在化とγTuCの制御機構を分けられることを強く示唆する。
この結果は、線虫のみならず、他の動物種における組織特異的なγTuCによる微小管形成能の制御機構と組織形成に関与する微小管ネットワーク構造の構築原理の理解する上で重要な知見となる。