2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Super-resolution imaging for synapse reveals structure-function correlation between sub-synaptic protein localization and synaptic plasticity
| Project/Area Number |
20K22685
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Review Section |
0704:Neuroscience, brain sciences, and related fields
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| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
Liu Pin-Wu 京都大学, 医学研究科, 研究員 (60886563)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Memory formation / Synaptic plasiticity / Super-resolution imaging / STORM / liquid phase separation |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the memory formation, we focused on elucidating the behavior of synaptic proteins. Previously, we have reported the synaptic activity-dependent organization of nano-scale localization of postsynaptic proteins via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), which explains the potentiation of synapse during memory formation.
To observe the detailed structure of synaptic protein clusters requires super-resolution imaging. Thus, to expand our research, we first set up the super-resolution microscopy with Nikon STORM system. However, to observe the interaction between two synaptic proteins, dual-channel super-resolution microscopy is required. So, we extend our system from single-channel to dual-channel by optimizing imaging buffer, upgrading laser power and modifying the pathway of laser beam. Overall, we established the dual-channel STORM system that allow us to observe the interaction among synaptic proteins at nano-scale level.
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| Free Research Field |
Neuroscience
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
Being able to study the interaction among synaptic proteins at nano-scale level by dual-channel STORM allows us to dig out the mechanism of synaptic plasticity which serves as molecular basis of memory that can lead medical invention of memory-related mental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
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