Elucidation of dynamic control of biomembrane functions by phospholipid transfer proteins

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26287098
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biological physics/Chemical physics/Soft matter physics
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: Nakano Minoru 富山大学, 大学院医学薬学研究部(薬学), 教授 (70314226)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 池田 恵介 富山大学, 大学院医学薬学研究部(薬学), 助教 (00553281)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 脂質 / ベシクル / 中性子散乱 / 蛍光 / 表面プラズモン共鳴

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we established the system to evaluate intervesicular phospholipid transfer by using neutron scattering and pyrene-excimer fluorescence. With these methods, we also measured lipid transfer activity of phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins, and obtained the maximum rate at which one protein molecule transfers lipids from the protein concentration dependence of the transfer rate. Surface plasmon resonance measurements revealed the association property of the protein to the lipid membranes that depends on the lipid composition and/or membrane curvature. Combination of these experimental methods and usage of protein mutants finally clarified that lipid transfer mechanism of the protein involves lipid exchange of the protein that occurs when the protein binds to the membrane and prior to the dissociation.

Free Research Field

生物物理化学