2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Study on mechanism of rotational movement of node cilia in the mouse embryo by ultra high voltage electron microscopy
| Project/Area Number |
24770209
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Research Field |
Developmental biology
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| Research Institution | Osaka University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
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| Keywords | 繊毛 |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Determination of left-right asymmetry in mouse embryos is established by a leftward flow that is generated by clockwise rotation of node cilia. Here we show exposure to the microtubule-stabilizing drug paclitaxel/Taxol markedly changes the motion pattern and ultrastructure of node cilia. In general, the node cilia show clockwise rotation. However, Taxol-treated node cilia show rotation in the random direction. We next analyze ultrastructure of node cilia by electron tomography. the node cilia harbor a regular arrangement of nine doublet microtubules, but taxol treatment randomizes the arrangement: a couple of microtubules move from the peripheral to the center of axoneme. To clarify relation between motion and structure of cilia, we carry out computer simulation of ciliary motion based on the electron tomography data. The computer simulation reveals that the regular arrangement of doublet microtubules is essential for stable unidirectional rotation of the node cilia.
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| Free Research Field |
細胞生物学
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