Synaptic formation and maturation regulated by membrane trafficking leading to higher function of the nervous system

2011 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22790293
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: General medical chemistry
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: SAKANE Ayuko 徳島大学, 大学院・ヘルスバイオサイエンス研究部, 助教 (60509777)
• Project Period (FY): 2010 – 2011
• Keywords: 脳・神経系形成 / 高次神経機能獲得 / シナプス形成・成熟 / 小胞輸送 / Rabファミリー低分子量G蛋白質

Research Abstract

Rab family small G proteins serve as molecular switches in the regulation of vesicular trafficking. In this study, we focus on the role and mode of action of Rab3A, Rab13, and their related proteins in synaptic formation and maturation, leading to higher function of the nervous system. As to Rab3A, we found the mice lacking Rabconnectin, the Rab3A-related protein, exhibit neuronal dysfunction, probably because of misformation of synaptic organization. We also found that the Rab13-JRAB system regulates the reorganization of actin cytoskeleton during neurite extension in PC12 cells. Our results suggest that this system may simultaneously coordinate vesicle transport and actin cytoskeletal reorganization in synaptic formation followed by maturation.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Expression of RASSF6 in kidney and the implication of RASSF6 and the Hippo pathway in the sorbitol-induced apoptosis in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (2012)
  • Author(s): Withanage, K., Nakagawa, K., Ikeda, M., Kurihara, H., Kudo, T., Yang, Z., Sakane, A., Sasaki, T., Hata, Y
  • Journal Title: J. Biochem Volume: (in press)
  • DOI: DOI:10.1093/jb/mvs056
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Rab13 regulates neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells through its effector protein, JRAB/ MICAL-L2 (2010)
  • Author(s): Sakane, A., Honda, K. and Sasaki, T
  • Journal Title: Mol. Cell. Biol Volume: 30(4) Pages: 1077-1087
  • DOI: DOI:10.1128/MCB.01067-09
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Rubicon and PLEKHM1 negatively regulate the endocytic/ autophagic pathway via a novel Rab7-binding domain (2010)
  • Author(s): Tabata, K., Matsunaga, K., Sakane, A., Sasaki, T., Noda, T. and Yoshimori, T
  • Journal Title: Mol. Biol. Cell Volume: 21(23) Pages: 4162-4173
  • DOI: DOI:10.1091/mbc.E10-06-0495
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] 細胞接着・運動においてRab13-JRAB系が制御する小胞輸送とアクチン細胞骨格再編成 (2011)
  • Author(s): 坂根亜由子、佐々木卓也
  • Organizer: 第70回日本癌学会学術総会
  • Place of Presentation: 名古屋国際会議場(名古屋市)
  • Year and Date: 2011-10-03
• [Presentation] A role of JRAB in epithelial junctional development : The cross-talk between vesicular trafficking and actin cytoskeleton in the submembrane plaque細胞間接着形成過程においてJRABが制御する細胞内小胞輸送とアクチン細胞骨格系の細胞膜直下でのクロストーク機構 (2011)
  • Author(s): Ayuko Sakane and Takuya Sasaki
  • Organizer: 第63回日本細胞生物学会大会ミニシンポジウム
  • Place of Presentation: 北海道大学(札幌市)
  • Year and Date: 2011-06-28
• [Presentation] Functions of Rab family small G proteins in neurite outgrowth.神経突起形成におけるRabファミリー低分子量G蛋白質の機能 (2010)
  • Author(s): Takuya Sasaki and Ayuko Sakane
  • Organizer: 第62回日本細胞生物学会大会シンポジウム
  • Place of Presentation: 大阪国際会議場(大阪市)
  • Year and Date: 2010-05-20
• [Presentation] The Rubicon family negatively regulates the endocytic pathway through the interactions with Rab7. RubiconファミリーはRab7との結合を介してエンドサイトーシス経路を負に制御する (2010)
  • Author(s): Keisuke Tabata, Kohichi Matsunaga, Ayuko Sakane, Takuya Sasaki, Takeshi Noda and Tamotsu Yoshimori
  • Organizer: 第62回日本細胞生物学会大会
  • Place of Presentation: 大阪国際会議場(大阪市)
  • Year and Date: 2010-05-19