Creation of an actin fiber differentiation system diagram towards the final differentiated cells using ultra-microscopic techniques

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23370072
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biophysics
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: IWANE Atsuko 大阪大学, 生命機能研究科, 招へい教授 (30252638)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): WATANABE Tomonobu 大阪大学, 免疫学フロンティアセンター, 招へい准教授 (00375205) ; FUJII Takashi 大阪大学, 生命機能研究科, 特任研究員 (10582611)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: アクチン繊維 / クライオ電子顕微鏡 / 構造解析 / 分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have developed a system that can observe the beating of myotubes differentiated to skeletal muscle cells. We have also established a system for live imaging while monitoring differentiation markers by qRT-PCR to identify the state of actin fibers. Additionally, we have combined suitable vitrification and dual-axial observation in order to obtain a clearer image of the cell. Using this EM system, we could observe relatively thick specimens and distinguish actin fibers from microtubules and intermediate filaments more clearly. In addition to the visualization of the superfine structure without staining, we successfully observed in the same field of the cell under liquid N2 using light microscopy to identify target molecules.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学・生物物理学