Regulatory mechanism and function of Rif small GTPase in cancer cell migration

2024 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K15365
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 48040:Medical biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Fukushima Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Hoshi Kyoka 福島県立医科大学, 医学部, 博士研究員 (00726995)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: 低分子量Gタンパク質 / がん細胞浸潤 / がん転移

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we elucidated the activity and intracellular function of Rif, a protein that regulates cancer cell migration, and found that Rif is involved in cell migration through the formation of filopodia and that its membrane localization is regulated by its binding to a protein called SmgGDS. On the other hand, although the activity of Rif remained constantly high, SmgGDS is not involved in regulating its activity in the cell. Our results also showed that Rif also localizes to the nucleus and affects nuclear membrane structure, and that high expression of Rif and Ror1 is associated with progression and metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、がん細胞の移動や転移に関わるタンパク質Rifの細胞内での働きや制御機構を明らかにした。特に、Rifが細胞膜や核にどのように局在し、細胞の動きを制御しているか、またその調節因子としてSmgGDSがどのように関与しているかを詳細に解析した。その結果、Rifはがん細胞の膜や核膜の構造や機能に影響を与えること、さらにRifおよびSmgGDSの発現が肺がんの進行や転移と関連することが判明した。これらの知見は、がんの新たな診断マーカーや治療標的の開発に貢献する学術的・社会的意義を持つものである。