Cell-autonomous mechanism for control of intracellular temperature

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K05391
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38030:Applied biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Pharmaceutical University
• Principal Investigator: Nagao Kohjiro 京都薬科大学, 薬学部, 准教授 (40587325)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Phospholipid

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Temperature is a fundamental physical quantity that governs the molecular motion, structure, and reactivity of biomolecules, and temperature changes inside and outside the cell affect a wide range of cellular functions, including cell proliferation, metabolism, and signal transduction. For this reason, adapting to temperature changes is important for maintaining cellular functions. In this study, we used Drosophila cultured cells to analyze the relationship between the chemical structure of phospholipids and the mechanism of heat production. We found that fatty acid desaturase increases unsaturated fatty acid-containing phospholipids in mitochondria upon exposure to low temperatures, thereby cell-autonomously activating mitochondrial heat production through the formation of ATP synthase oligomers accompanied by the reorganization of cristae structures in mitochondria.

Free Research Field

Biochemistry

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

生物にとって温度はその生存や機能に重要である。このため、生物が自身の温度を制御することはその恒常性を維持するために重要である。このため、本研究において明らかにした細胞自律的な細胞内温度の制御機構は幅広い生命機能や疾患の理解に寄与すると考えられる。