| 研究実績の概要 |
The current research hypothesizes that microtubules are mechanotransducers of mechanical stress. In this study, a comprehensive understanding of the issue will be made. Last year the modulation of cargo transport in response to mechanical stress on the microtubule is a universal phenomenon independent of the motor protein by using kinesin was verified. Kinesin-driven transport of fluorescent quantum dots was carried out on microtubules fixed on a stretchable substrate. The effect of the mechanical stress on the cargo transport was systematically evaluated by applying compressive strain or tensile strain using the microstretcher chamber developed previously. Parameter analysis e.g., run length, velocities, pause frequencies, etc., from the fluorescence microscopy observation was done.
This year, we also verified if the modulation of cargo transport in response to mechanical stress is recovered if the applied stress on the microtubule was withdrawn. For this research, I will first apply compressive stress on the microtubule using my micro-stretcher and release the stress. Then I observed dynein or kinesin-driven cargo transport and compare it with the case of undeformed microtubules to explore the restoration of the transport dynamics.
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