Analysis of molecular mechanisms related to functions of the neuromuscular junction using an in vivo synapse model

• Project/Area Number: 26440080
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biophysics
• Research Institution: University of Hyogo
• Principal Investigator: Miyazawa Atsuo 兵庫県立大学, 生命理学研究科, 教授 (60247252)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 福永 優子 千葉科学大学, 危機管理学部, 准教授 (80254522)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2016)
• Budget Amount: ¥5,070,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,170,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
• Keywords: 神経筋接合部 / ニコチン性アセチルコリン受容体 / 相関顕微鏡法 / 電子顕微鏡法 / アセチルコリン受容体クラスター / 電子顕微鏡 / アセチルコリン受容体 / シナプス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A neuromuscular junction is the place where signals for muscle contraction are transduced from a motor neuron into a muscle fiber. Acetylcholine released from the motor neuron binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on the plasma membrane of the muscle fiber, and the muscle will be contracted. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor forms a cluster with various related proteins for efficient signal transduction. However the mechanisms of receptor clustering is still unclear. In this study we analysed the molecular mechanisms of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor clustering using correlative light and electron microscopy.

Research Products

• [Presentation] 相関顕微鏡法を用いたnAChRクラスターの分子局在解析 (2017)
  • Author(s): 野間有加里、西野有里、宮澤淳夫
  • Organizer: 第73回日本顕微鏡学会学術講演会
  • Place of Presentation: 札幌コンベンションセンター（北海道札幌市）
  • Year and Date: 2017-05-30
• [Presentation] Observation method of cross-sectioned cells by cryo-scanning electron microscopy (2014)
  • Author(s): Yuri Nishino、Yoshiko Ito、Ａｔｓｕｏ Miyazawa
  • Organizer: 18th International Microscopy Congress
  • Place of Presentation: プラハ（チェコ共和国）
  • Year and Date: 2014-09-07 – 2014-09-12
• [Presentation] CryoSEM を用いた新たな組織・細胞観察法 (2014)
  • Author(s): 西野有里、伊藤喜子、宮澤淳夫
  • Organizer: 日本顕微鏡学会第25回電顕サマースクール2014
  • Place of Presentation: 久留米大学（福岡県久留米市旭町）
  • Year and Date: 2014-07-25 – 2014-07-27
  • Invited
• [Presentation] 光子・電子相関顕微鏡法を利用したアセチルコリン受容体 クラスターの分子局在解析 (2014)
  • Author(s): 西野有里、狩谷悠輔、宮澤淳夫
  • Organizer: 日本顕微鏡学会第７０回記念学術講演会
  • Place of Presentation: 幕張メッセ国際会議場(千葉県千葉市美浜区）
  • Year and Date: 2014-05-11 – 2014-05-13