Functional analysis of noppera-bo, the novel gene regulating cholesterol transport and metabolism

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25712010
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Applied biochemistry
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: NIWA Ryusuke 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 准教授 (60507945)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 遺伝学 / 昆虫 / 生理学 / 発生・分化 / コレステロール / グルタチオンS-転移酵素

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study is toward understanding a functional role of Noppera-bo, the novel protein that is required for steroid hormone biosynthesis. Based on our phenotypic analyses using noppera-bo loss-of function mutants of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the silkworm Bombyx mori, we have found that noppera-bo plays an indispensable role in regulating the behavior of cholesterol in steroidogenic organs. To investigate which molecules can affect Noppera-bo enzymatic activity, we have developed a high through-put screen system with the recombinant Noppera-bo protein, the fluorescent probe to monitor the enzymatic activity and chemical compound library. We have found that some steroids directly bind to Noppera-bo protein and display significant inhibitory effects on Noppera-bo enzymatic activity. These important results imply that an endogenous substrate for Noppera-bo should be a kind of steroids, including sterols.

Free Research Field

発生遺伝学、昆虫生理学