BAR protein and N-WASP-mediated regulation of skeletal muscle fusion by cooperating with cell migration

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K06078
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 43030:Functional biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: Takano Kazunori 千葉大学, 大学院理学研究院, 助教 (60466860)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: アクチン細胞骨格 / 筋細胞融合 / 細胞運動 / 細胞表層アクチン / 筋原繊維形成

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Skeletal muscle is composed of multinucleated cells and plays a role not only as a locomotor but also as the largest energy-metabolizing organ in the body. Skeletal muscle is known to decrease with age, so elucidating the mechanism of increase in skeletal muscle mass (muscle hypertrophy) is an important issue in supporting Japan's aging society. We thought this problem could be addressed by elucidating the mechanism of skeletal muscle cell fusion. This study revealed that membrane fusion during skeletal muscle cell fusion requires a decrease in membrane tension, and that cell surface actin filament dynamics during the muscle cell fusion process. Furthermore, BAR proteins, N-WASP-Arp2/3 complexes, and the Rac1-WAVE axis were revealed to be involved in both muscle cell migration and fusion.

Free Research Field

分子細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

加齢正筋肉減少症（サルコペニア）は「筋量と筋力の進行性かつ全身性の減少に特徴づけられる症状で、身体機能障害や生活の質の低下、死のリスクを伴うもの」と定義されている。サルコペニアは寝たきりの原因にもなるため、高齢化社会において筋量の維持は重要な研究課題である。本研究により細胞膜制御と細胞骨格の制御が細胞遊走だけでなく筋細胞融合とも連動して制御されることを明らかにした点は学術的意義がある。