Molecular mechanism of melanopsin to induce non-image forming responses

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26891022
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Animal physiology/Animal behavior
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Hatori Megumi 慶應義塾大学, 医学部, 准教授 (90590472)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-08-29 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: メラノプシン / 概日リズム / 網膜

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Melanopsin photopigment expressed in intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells plays a crucial role in the adaptation of mammals to ambient light environment through both image-forming and non-image-forming visual responses. The melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells are structurally and functionally distinct from classical rod/cone photoreceptors and have unique properties, including single-photon response, long response latency, photon integration over time, and slow deactivation. To understand the molecular property of melanospin, I generated various mutant versions of melanopsin, and these proteins were expressed in mammalian cells. Blue light-dependent increases in cytosolic calcium were monitored. By using this assay system, several of mutant melanopsin were obtained to show in vitro response difference compared to wild type melanopsin, and the effect of these mutant melanopsin on non-image forming responses will be evaluated in vivo in mice.

Free Research Field

神経科学