Biological phenomena that are driven by cell-autonomous control of intracellular temperature

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K20636
• 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: University of Shizuoka
• Principal Investigator: Murakami Akira 静岡県立大学, 薬学部, 助教 (50963518)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞内温度 / ミトコンドリア / 筋管形成

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we hypothesized that local temperature fluctuations at the sub-cellular level could trigger biological phenomena by affecting cell signaling. We focused on mitochondria as intracellular heat sources and investigated the relationship between mitochondrial metabolic activity and myoblast differentiation. Our findings revealed a regulatory mechanism for myotube formation mediated by MTCH2, a mitochondria-localized protein that plays a critical role in cell determination and energy metabolism. Additionally, we also succeeded in establishing a method for proximity labeling of cytosolic proteins near mitochondria and an intracellular temperature measurement technique in myoblast.

Free Research Field

生物物理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

研究者のこれまでの研究により、1細胞レベルの能動的かつ自律的な温度制御が明らかになっていたが、その明確な意義は不明であった。今回、エネルギー代謝と筋管形成に焦点を絞った解析を展開することにより、筋芽細胞の分化に関連するシグナル伝達経路が細胞内温度変動の作用点である可能性が新たに示された。また、MTCH2依存的な筋管形成メカニズムが個体レベルで実証された暁には、筋疾患や筋機能不全の治療・改善法に新たな知見をもたらすことも期待される。