Analysis of establishment and breakdown of phospholipid asymmetry in the plasma membrane

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K20634
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0701:Biology at molecular to cellular levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: Keio University (2023); Kyushu University (2022)
• Principal Investigator: Ono Yumiko 慶應義塾大学, 薬学部(芝共立), 特任助教 (40968442)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞内輸送 / 選別輸送 / lipid raft / スフィンゴ脂質 / 細胞極性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The lipid bilayer is composed of different lipids in the inner and outer layers. In epithelial cells, it is known that different proteins and lipids are asymmetrically distributed in the apical and basolateral plasma membrane bordering the tight junction structure, called the epithelial cell polarity.
In this research project, we have been investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the asymmetric distribution of plasma membrane components.

Free Research Field

分子細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は長らく信じられてきたlipid raftの概念を詳細に解析する。上皮細胞極性の形成・維持の根底にある分子メカニズムは、発生やがんに関連する。これらの経路を操作する治療戦略の開発には、分子基盤の解明が不可欠であり、本研究はその基礎となる知見をもたらす。