Institute for Frontier Science Initiative Interdisciplinary Seminar "Homeostasis Mechanism and its Disruption in Active Zone of Nerve Endings by Liquid Phase Separation".

Event Details

【Title】 Homeostatic Mechanism of Active Zone of Nerve Endings and Its Disruption by Liquid Phase Separation
【Speaker】Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi Professor Toshihisa Otsuka

The higher functions of the brain are properly served by strict spatio-temporal control of synaptic transmission at nerve endings. Presynapses contain active zones as relatively electron-dense structures. In the 1990s, a series of proteins specific to the active zone were identified and their functions were analyzed.

Currently, six specific proteins are known: Bassoon, Piccolo/Aczonin, RIM, Munc13-1, CAST, and ELKS. Among them, CAST and its family member ELKS directly interact with all other active zone proteins to form large non-membrane supramolecular complexes. On the other hand, the physiological dynamics of the active zone nonmembrane supramolecular complexes of CAST/ELKS and how their functions and structures are altered in various neuropsychiatric disorders are still unknown.

Therefore, in this talk, I will first review the previous findings on the structure and function of active zones, and then introduce the principle of operation of non-membrane supramolecular complexes via CAST/ELKS, especially the recent data from Otsuka Professor based on the phenomenon of liquid-liquid phase separation.

【Courses for which credit is granted】
● Graduate School of Medical Sciences (doctoral course) Division of Medicine
　 Course Title "Up-to-date Seminars"

Contact

Institute for Frontier Science Initiative　Assistant Professor　Hisato Maruoka,　 Associate Professor 　Yuka Inaba　TEL : 076-265-2152

E-mail : maruoka(a)staff.kanazawa-u.ac.jp 　*(a) should be replaced with @.