The cooperative effect of actin barbed end regulators on controlling the filament turnover mechanisms

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25650064
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cell biology
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Takeda Shuichi 名古屋大学, 理学(系)研究科(研究院), 研究員 (50509081)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): NARITA Akihiro 名古屋大学, 大学院理学研究科, 准教授 (30360613)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: アクチン / アクチンダイナミックス / アクチンキャッピングタンパク質 / X線結晶構造解析 / 細胞運動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cell motility is driven by a dynamic assembly of a cytoskeletal protein, actin that exists in two states; monomeric form (called G-actin) or filamentous form (actin filaments). The actin capping protein (CP) binds tightly to the end of actin filaments and stops the assembly and disassembly of the filaments, thus playing an important role in controlling the cellular dynamics. In this study, by using X-ray crystallography, we have revealed the modes of interaction between CP and its binding partners. Our results suggest that, by regulating the filament end-binding affinity of CP, cells control the amount of the monomeric form actin to achieve collective migration.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学