Understanding of Molecular Mechanisms of Membrane Traffic by Live Imaging and Its Extension to Plant Higher Systems

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25221103
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Cell biology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Nakano Akihiko 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 教授 (90142140)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 植村 知博 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 助教 (90415092) ; 黒川 量雄 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 光量子工学研究領域, 専任研究員 (40333504) ; 上田 貴志 基礎生物学研究所, 細胞動態研究部門, 教授 (10311333) ; 須田 恭之 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 助教 (10553844) ; 富永 基樹 早稲田大学, 教育・総合科学学術院, 准教授 (50419892)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-05-31 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: オルガネラ形成・動態 / 膜交通

Outline of Final Research Achievements

By using yeast and plant cells as models and super-resolution confocal live imaging microscopy (SCLIM) as a powerful tool, we visualized membrane trafficking and analyzed molecular mechanisms of sorting during ER-to-Golgi, intra-Golgi, post-Golgi and endocytic transport steps. We succeeded in imaging cargo during transport and obtained amazing new results that overturn long-believed paradigms. SCLIM has achieved a massive progress in spatiotemporal resolutions and led to real-time and 3D analysis of individual vesicle dynamics. As for the functions of membrane traffic in plants, we have found that the trans-Golgi network plays a very important role in defense against pathogens.

Free Research Field

生物学