ケージド化合物励起用UV照射・調光装置の開発的研究

嗅觉转导是由腺苷环化酶-cAMP系统介导的，其适应受cAMP代谢中的钙反馈调节。从定性上讲，现在对嗅觉传导系统的轮廓已经有了相当的了解。然而，从量化的角度来看，仍然有许多悬而未决的问题，因为在嗅觉研究领域，目前的研究很难控制刺激的传递，对于反应的量化，我们的目标是量化对嗅觉感受器细胞的刺激。为此，我们使用笼式cAMP，开发了一种可以自由、快速地控制紫外线强度的新型紫外线闪光灯光源。利用全细胞膜片钳方法，我们监测了细胞质cAMP敏感的膜电流。胞质cAMP的光解引起cAMP门控通道的快速激活。利用这个新的系统，我们计划量化嗅觉感受器细胞中适应的反应形状和钙依赖。在未来，同样的协议将被用于理解广泛的细胞功能。

Olfactory transduction is mediated by the adenylyl cyclase-cAMP system, and their adaptation is regulated by Ca-feedback within the cAMP metabolism. In a qualitative manner, outline of olfactory transduction system is now fairly well understood. However, in the view of quantification, there are still many unresolved questions, since in the field of olfaction research, it is so difficult to control the stimulus delivery In the present study, for response quantification, we aimed to quantify the stimulation to the olfactory receptor cell. To do so, we used caged cAMP and developed a new UV-flash source which can control UV intensity freely and rapidly. Using the whole-cell patch clamp method, we monitored membrane currents sensitive to cytoplasmic cAMP.Photolysis of cytoplasmic caged-cAMP caused rapid activation of cAMP-gated channels. Using this new system, we are planning to quantify the response shape and Ca-dependence of the adaptation in the olfactory receptor cell. In future, the same protocol will be used for the understanding of wide variety of cell functions.