2011 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Development of multi-scale and functional imaging technique to quantify the fluctuation in intercellular signaling

Research Project

Project/Area Number	22770182
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Cell biology
Research Institution	National Institute of Genetics
Principal Investigator	HORIKAWA Kazuki 国立遺伝学研究所, 新分野創造センター, 准教授 (70420247)
Project Period (FY)	2010 – 2011
Keywords	自己組織化 / BRET
Research Abstract	To better understand the principle in self-organized pattern formation, it is important to measure fluctuating input/output-relationship of intercellular communication at the onset of pattern formation. Here, we tried to develop ultrasensitive indicators for cAMP, being the major communication signaling molecule. First, we designed the FRET-based cAMP indicator whose dynamic range and Kd was optimized for the extracellular measurement, and successfully generated ultrasensitive cAMP probe whose Kd is around 50 nM. We also developed luminescent-based BRET indicators whose Kd ranges from 50 nM to 3 microM. By utilizing these probes, we can directly measure the pattern of both intra-and intercellular cAMP concentration change which should reveal the input/output-relation during the self-organized pattern formation.

(2 results)