Whole-body search of the channel synapse in mice

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21505
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 48:Biomedical structure and function and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Taruno Akiyuki 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (20706824)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 村上 達郎 京都府立医科大学, 医学部, 研究員 (30848502)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: シナプス / ATP / イオンチャネル / CALHM / ミトコンドリア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the distribution of channel synapses, a new form of chemical neurotransmission discovered in recent years. First, we comprehensively analyzed the organs co-expressing CALHM1 and CALHM3 using mice and confirmed their co-expression in multiple organs. Subsequently, we obtained structural evidence suggesting the potential formation of channel synapses by these cells. This indicates that channel synapses are present throughout the body, suggesting the potential to open up new areas of research in neuroscience.

Free Research Field

生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

チャネルシナプス研究を全身展開し、その普遍的重要性を示す研究にとって重要な知見を与えるとともに、今後、チャネルシナプスが生み出す新たな神経科学研究領域の萌芽となった。本研究の結果からチャネルシナプスが担う生命現象は多岐にわたると考えられ、チャネルシナプスは将来、様々な疾患の理解や創薬標的になるものと考えられる。