About the Research
Research Theme
Molecular mechanism of changes and/or maintaining cell morphology
Keyword
Myosin II, cell morphology, cell motility, cytoskeleton
Research Outline
Our body consists of different types of cells that have specific morphologies. Each cell can function by maintaining its morphology. When the cells divide or migrate, their morphology is changed. The localized polymerization of actin monomers into filaments, which serve as cytoskeletal components, and motor proteins, such as myosin II that move actin filaments, play essential roles in allowing changes and maintaining cellular morphology. We are interested in determining how myosin II functions at specific time points and particular cellular locations.
Representative Research Achievements
- Differential Contributions of Nonmuscle Myosin IIA and IIB to Cytokinesis in Human Immortalized Fibroblasts. K. Yamamoto, K. Otomo, T. Nemoto, S. Ishihara, S., H. Haga, A. Nagasaki, Y. Murakami, M. Takahashi. Exp. Cell Res., 2019, 376, 67-76.
DOI : 10.1016/j.yexcr.2019.01.020 - Different Contributions of Nonmuscle Myosin IIA and IIB to the Organization of Stress Fiber Subtypes in Fibroblasts. M. Kuragano, T. Q. P. Uyeda, K. Kamijo, Y. Murakami, M. Takahashi. Mol. Biol. Cell, 2018, 29, 911-922.
DOI : 10.1091/mbc.E17-04-0215 - Nonmuscle Myosin IIA and IIB Differentially Contribute to Intrinsic and Directed Migration of Human Embryonic Lung Fibroblasts. M. Kuragano, Y. Murakami, M. Takahashi. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 2018, 498, 25-31.
DOI : 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.02.171 - Nonmuscle Myosin II Folds into a 10S Form via Two Portions of Tail for Dynamic Subcellular Localization. T. Kiboku, T. Katoh, A. Nakamura, A. Kitamura, M. Kinjo, Y. Murakami, M. Takahashi. Genes to Cells, 2013, 18, 90-109.
DOI : 10.1111/gtc.12021 - Critical Regions for Assembly of Vertebrate Nonmuscle Myosin II. T. Nakasawa, M. Takahashi, F. Matsuzawa, S. Aikawa, Y. Togashi, T. Saitoh, A. Yamagishi M. Yazawa. Biochemistry, 2005, 44, 174-183.
DOI : 10.1021/bi048807h