Elucidation of the molecular mechanism sensing lipid asymmetry and transducing the signals

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25650059
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cell biology
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: KIHARA Akio 北海道大学, 薬学研究科(研究院), 教授 (50333620)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): OBARA Keisuke 北海道大学, 大学院薬学研究院, 助教 (30419858)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 脂質 / 脂質非対称 / スフィンゴ脂質 / グリセロリン脂質 / 細胞膜 / シグナル伝達

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Lipid composition differs between outer and inner leaflets of the plasma membrane, generating lipid asymmetry. Since lipid asymmetry is important for a variety of cellular functions, living organism contains a system maintaining lipid asymmetry. Previously, we found that Rim101 pathway responses to a change in lipid asymmetry and that Rim21 functions as a sensor. Here, we revealed that the signaling events from Rim21 to ESCRT III occured at the plasma membrane and ubiquitination was important. Furthermore, we identified a novel factor Opt2 as a protein induced by a change in lipid asymmetry in Rim21-dependent manner. We also revealed that Opt2 was essential for cell growth to respond to changes in lipid asymmetry.

Free Research Field

脂質生化学