Study of presynaptic proteins which regulate construction, maintenance and strengthen cholinergic synapses

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25290025
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurochemistry/Neuropharmacology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: MOCHIDA Sumiko 東京医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (30096341)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: シナプス / コリン作動性神経 / 発火 / カルシウム / シナプス小胞 / アクフィブゾーン / カルシウム結合タンパク質 / タンパク分子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Under long culture, superior cervical ganglion neurons taken from 7th day rats form strong synapses. Using this model synapse, presynaptic proteins which regulate construction, maintenance and strengthen cholinergic synapses, temporal and special activation and inactivation of functioning synapse that underlie synaptic plasticity were studied with genetic and philological approaches. Results revealed the candidates of the factors, dynamics of Ca2+ concentration after action potential(s) firing, Ca2+-binding proteins that activate cascades of presynaptic functional proteins, and proteins that control Ca2+channel mobility and activity. In the mature synapse, milliseconds Ca2+ dynamics activate multiple protein cascades for synaptic vesicle control and synaptic plasticity.

Free Research Field

神経生理学