Elucidation of roles of sphingomyelin in the formation of microvilli

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25711012
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cell biology
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Ikenouchi Junicni 九州大学, 理学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (10500051)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 微絨毛 / スフィンゴミエリン / ブレブ / アクチン細胞骨格 / 細胞膜突起構造

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Microvilli are dynamic filamentous-actin-based protrusions of the plasma membrane that are found in the apical membrane of epithelial cells. However, it remains poorly understood how their formation is regulated. The importance of regulators of actin cytoskeleton in the formation of microvilli had been revealed in the previous studies; however,the contribution of membrane lipids in the formation of microvilli has been largely underestimated.In this research project, we found that sphingomyelin clustering underlies the formation of microvilli. Furthermore, we clarified how sphingomyelin cluster regulates actin cytoskeleton in the formation of microvilli. We also examined the molecular mechanisms of membrane bleb, which is another protrusion of plasma membrane.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学