Laboratory for Neuronal Growth Mechanisms
Laboratory Head
Hiroyuki KAMIGUCHI (M.D.,Ph.D.)
Precise neuronal networks are formed by axons that have elongated and reached their appropriate targets. The tip of an elongating axon, called the growth cone, explores guidance cues in the surrounding environment, and decides its migratory direction via intracellular region-specific signal transduction. Understanding the biophysical mechanisms of axon growth requires intensive research into dynamic functions of the cytoskeleton, cell adhesion molecules and cell membranes as well as their spatial control mechanisms. Using the state-of-the-art techniques such as real-time imaging of molecular functions in growth cones, laser activation/inactivation of signaling molecules, physical manipulation of membrane molecules by optical tweezers and proteomic analyses, my laboratory aims to elucidate mechanisms of axon growth and to develop basic strategies for regenerating injured neuronal networks.
- Studies on intracellular signals that regulate axon growth and guidance
- Functional analyses of cytoskeletal and membrane dynamics in growth cones
- Studies on lipids and sugars that regulate axon growth and regeneration
- February 02, 2010
- Front end of brain cell discovered to rotate clockwise
- July 10, 2009
- Substance identified that regulates growth direction of neuron protrusion
- July 23,2010
- A turning point for young neurons
Inward flow of membrane material is critical for repulsive growth cone turning
- April 09,2010
- Twisting in the right direction
Spontaneous rotating movements cause growing nerve fibers to turn to theright
- October 12, 2007
- How does a neuronal process reach its destination?
- Tojima, T., Hines, J.H., Henley, J.R., and Kamiguchi, H.:
"Second messengers and membrane trafficking direct and organize growth cone steering"
Nature Reviews Neuroscience 12, 191-203 (2011) - Akiyama, H. and Kamiguchi, H.:
"Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase facilitates microtubule-dependent membrane transport for neuronal growth cone guidance."
The Journal of Biological Chemistry 285, 41740-41748 (2010) - Tojima, T., Itofusa, R., and Kamiguchi, H.:
"Asymmetric clathrin-mediated endocytosis drives repulsive growth cone guidance."
Neuron 66, 370-377 (2010) - Tamada, A., Kawase, S., Murakami, F., and Kamiguchi, H.:
"Autonomous right-screw rotation of growth cone filopodia drives neurite turning."
The Journal of Cell Biology 188, 429-441(2010) - Akiyama, H., Matsu-ura, T., Mikoshiba, K., and Kamiguchi, H.:
"Control of neuronal growth cone navigation by asymmetric inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate signals."
Science Signaling 2, ra34 (2009) - Tojima, T., Itofusa, R., and Kamiguchi, H.:
"The nitric oxide-cyclic GMP pathway controls the directional polarity of growth cone guidance via modulating cytosolic Ca2+ signals."
The Journal of Neuroscience 29, 7886-7897 (2009) - Tojima, T., Akiyama, H., Itofusa, R., Li, Y., Katayama, H., Miyawaki, A., and Kamiguchi, H.:
"Attractive axon guidance involves asymmetric membrane transport and exocytosis in the growth cone."
Nature Neuroscience 10, 58-66 (2007) - Ooashi, N., Futatsugi, A., Yoshihara, F., Mikoshiba, K., and Kamiguchi, H.:
"Cell adhesion molecules regulate Ca2+-mediated steering of growth cones via cyclic AMP and ryanodine receptor type3."
The Journal of Cell Biology 170, 1159-1167 (2005) - Nishimura, K., Yoshihara, F., Tojima, T., Ooashi, N., Yoon, W., Mikoshiba, K., Bennett, V., and Kamiguchi, H.:
"L1-dependent neuritogenesis involves ankyrinB that mediates L1-CAM coupling with retrograde actin flow."
The Journal of Cell Biology 163, 1077-1088 (2003) - Nakai, Y. and Kamiguchi, H.:
"Migration of nerve growth cones requires detergent-resistant membranes in a spatially defined and substrate-dependent manner."
The Journal of Cell Biology 159, 1097-1108 (2002)