Role of electron transport chain in tissue formation

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02671
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 48030:Pharmacology-related
• Research Institution: Wakayama Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Shintani Norihito 和歌山県立医科大学, 薬学部, 教授 (10335367)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ミトコンドリア / 遺伝子欠損マウス / 膵島 / 白色脂肪 / 肺胞 / 脳ヘルニア / FMC1 / LYRM

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, I focused on the mitochondrial protein p13/FMC1, which is functionally less known and the principal investigator has been conducting many researches on,in order to clarify the role of electron transport chain in the tissue formation. In addition to its previously discovered effects on the formation of some peripheral tissues, p13/FMC1 was shown to be involved in the formation of adrenal glands and alveoli. We also showed that the common molecular basis of these tissue formation disorders may be related to abnormalities in the electron transport system and hormone secretion. Furthermore, I have developped important research tools to clarify the cooperative functional control of the electron transport chain by p13/FMC1 and its family protein LYRMs.

Free Research Field

分子薬理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ミトコンドリアの研究領域では“ミトコンドリア病患者はなぜ個体ごとに症状が大きく異なり、また、同一の個体でも組織によって病状が大きく異なるのか”という普遍的問いがある。本研究の推進で、“p13/FMC1の組織特異的な機能は、異なるLYRMsとの間の協調的な電子伝達系制御による結果ではないか”いう仮説の実証に資するいくつかの知見の獲得と、研究プラットフォームの確立が達成された。