Golgi-ER-stress response and self-renewal of cancer stem cells - its molecular mechanism

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24590472
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Experimental pathology
• Research Institution: Akita University
• Principal Investigator: OMORI YASUFUMI 秋田大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (90323138)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): YOSHIOKA Toshiaki 秋田大学, 医学部, 講師 (80302264) ; YAMAMOTO Yohei 秋田大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 助教 (70400512)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: コネキシン / 癌幹細胞 / 小胞体ストレス / ゴルジ体ストレス / ATF6α / がん進展

Outline of Final Research Achievements

While connexin protein is localized in the plasma membrane in normal cells, it often translocates into and excessively accumulates in Golgi apparatuses in cancer cells. A large amount of connexin protein in Golgi apparatuses enhances activation of ATF6α protein, followed by translocation of the active ATF6α into the nucleus. Eventually, the active ATF6α functions as a transcription factor for the mRNA of GRP78 protein, which helps cancer stem cells to overcome pro-apoptotic endoplasmic reticulum stress. These sequential molecular events contribute to cancer progression and may thus become a new target for cancer control.

Free Research Field

実験病理学