Mechanosensitive PIEZO channel functions in cancer cells and their pathophysiological significance

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07599
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 50010:Tumor biology-related
• Research Institution: Aichi Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: MURAKI KATSUHIKO 愛知学院大学, 薬学部, 教授 (20254310)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 鈴木 裕可 愛知学院大学, 薬学部, 講師 (00581026) ; 波多野 紀行 愛知学院大学, 薬学部, 講師 (50454319)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Piezo / 伸展刺激 / 種差 / 分子構造 / がん

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Over the course of three years, significant progress has been made in the analysis of Piezo1. Particularly noteworthy is the publication of detailed three-dimensional structural data for Piezo1, enabling the identification of crucial amino acids within the protein based on species variations. This finding holds great significance. Based on this data and the obtained results, a structural domain potentially capable of amplifying tensile stimuli within the structure of gPiezo1 has been discovered and presented at the ICMS conference. On the other hand, the cloning of Piezo2 has not yet been successful, and further efforts are planned to continue this work.

Free Research Field

イオンチャネル分子薬理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Piezo1の詳細な3次元構造データが公表され、種差を基にしたPiezo1タンパク中の重要なアミノ酸の同定が可能になった。この構造データと本成果から、gPiezo1の構造中に伸展刺激を増幅する可能性のある構造ドメインを見出した（ICMSで発表）。この領域ががん性疼痛の受容機構に関係するか検討することは、臨床的にも大きな意義があると考えている。