evolutionarily conserved mechanisms underlying cellular adaptation to glucose-limited conditions

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06648
• 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: Kurume University
• Principal Investigator: Saitoh Shigeaki 久留米大学, 付置研究所, 教授 (30352123)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 糖代謝 / グルコース / TORC2 / ミトコンドリア / 分裂酵母 / ヒト培養細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

While hexose is the primary source of carbon in most eukaryotes including humans, abundant hexose is not always available in microenvironments surrounding eukaryote cells. Thus, eukaryote cells possess molecular mechanisms enabling adaptation to hexose-limited environments.
In this study, to reveal the evolutionarily conserved mechanisms underlying adaptation to hexose-limited environments, we utilized fission yeast and human cultured cells and screened for genes involved in such mechanisms. Mitochondria functions, and regulation of endocytosis via TORC2 signaling pathway are found to play pivotal roles in cellular adaptation to hexose-limited environments.

Free Research Field

分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究課題で言う「低ヘキソース環境」とは、健常人の血糖値と同程度のヘキソースを含む培養環境である。それゆえ本研究は「正常血糖値レベルのヘキソースを含む体液中で、なぜヒト細胞は活動できるのか？」という問いに答える研究であると言える。本研究の成果はがんや2型糖尿病の診断や治療法の開発につながるものと期待される。