Analysis of novel C1q-family proteins that regulate functional synaptic circuits and memory.

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26293042
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General physiology
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: KAKEGAWA WATARU 慶應義塾大学, 医学部, 准教授 (70383718)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 鈴木 邦道 慶應義塾大学, 医学部, 研究員 (10713703) ; 竹尾 ゆかり 慶應義塾大学, 医学部, 研究員 (90624320)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): Yuzaki Michisuke 慶應義塾大学, 医学部, 教授 (40365226) ; Miura Eriko 慶應義塾大学, 医学部, 研究員 (10571169)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: シナプス / 小脳 / 運動記憶 / プルキンエ細胞 / 精神神経疾患 / 補体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It has been recently considered that synapses, which connect between neurons, are a basic element for the learning and memory. Therefore, to elucidate how synapses are formed and behave in vivo is a very important issue for understanding the process of learning and memory. In this study, we found that novel C1q-family proteins, which have a functional domain conserved in the C1q complement in immune system, regulate dynamically synapse morphology, functions and the localization of the synaptic proteins in the cerebellum and hippocampus (Elegheert, Kakegawa et al., Science, ’16; Matsuda et al., Neuron, ’16; Kakegawa et al., Neuron, ’15). Interestingly, as C1q-family proteins are widely expressed in various brain regions throughout life, our findings may provide useful information to understand general and novel mechanisms for the synaptic integrity in the CNS.

Free Research Field

神経生理学