Integrative functional analysis of thermosensitive ion channels

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25670108
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General physiology
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Fujiwara Yuichiro 大阪大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (20532980)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 生理学 / 温度 / イオンチャネル / 構造機能相関 / 生物物理学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To understand the mechanism of thermosensation in our body, we analyzed structure-function of TRP channels that have a major role in thermosensation in the peripheral sensory nervous system. We analyzed electrophysiological properties of wild-type TRP channels and the mutants expressed in oocytes. We expressed and purified coiled-coil domain proteins of TRPV1 and TRPM8 and the ankyrin domain protein of TRPA1, that are reported to be involved in temperature sensing, with E. coli expression system. We also succeeded in determining the high resolution crystal structures of the coiled-coil domains of TRPM2 and TRPM3. We analyzed thermal stabilities of the coiled-coil domain proteins.

Free Research Field

生理学