Mechanism underlying the reduction of methylmercury toxicity by Ragulator complex which is an autophagy regulator

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25281023
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Risk sciences of radiation and chemicals
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: HWANG Gi-Wook 東北大学, 薬学研究科(研究院), 准教授 (00344680)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TAKAHASHI TSUTOMU 東北大学, 大学院薬学研究科, 助教 (00400474) ; TOYAMA TAKASHI 東北大学, 大学院薬学研究科, 助教 (50720918)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: メチル水銀 / オートファジー / 毒性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we found that methylmercury induced the autophagy through the function-loss of Ragulator complex which suppresses autophagy induction, but not known mechanisms. In addition, methylmercury induced the function-loss by promoting the degradation of Ragulator complex. When autophagy-related gene was inhibited by RNA interference, cultured-cells showed the methylmercury resistance. Taken together, we concluded that methylmercury might be cause the cytotoxicity through the induction of excessive autophagy.

Free Research Field

分子毒性学