Regulation of cold tolerance and thermo-sensation via degenerin-type mechano receptor DEG-1

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K19279
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 44:Biology at cellular to organismal levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: Konan University
• Principal Investigator: Kuhara Atsushi 甲南大学, 理工学部, 教授 (00402412)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: C. elegans / 低温耐性 / 線虫 / 温度受容体 / DEG/ENaC

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Temperature is one of the most important environmental information for the survival and prosperity of living organisms. In this study, we analyzed one of the temperature responses exhibited by the nematode C. elegans, cold tolerance, as an experimental system, with the aim of elucidating new principles involved in the molecular mechanism of thermosensation. Since we previously found that the mechanoreceptor DEG-1, DEG/ENaC, is a temperature receptor, we identified a new molecule related to mechanoreceptor-mediated thermosensation.

Free Research Field

生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ヒトを含む高等動物においてもDEG/ENaCは存在し、ヒトのMDEGも温度受容に関わることを以前に発表した。そのため、本研究で見つかってきた新たな温度受容体やその関連分子の解析を発展させることで、ヒトを含む動物の温度受容や温度関連疾患の原因解明に繋がることが期待される。