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Neural Proteomics Lab (Terasaki Lab)
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The lab investigates the function of lasp-2, an actin-binding protein that works in the brain.
AboutAbout the lab
Following a protein discovered in the brain.
The Neural Proteomics Lab studies lasp-2, a novel actin-binding protein discovered in the chicken brain.
When neurons form networks, the growth cone at the tip of the axon keeps moving until it reaches its target.
Actin-binding proteins are essential for the formation of these growth cones and of spines on the receiving side.
The lab examines how lasp-2 functions and is regulated in neurons and astrocytes, and how it has evolved.
Key terms
- Actin-binding protein
- A protein that binds to actin filaments, the structural framework of the cell, and regulates their shape and movement.
- Growth cone
- A hand-like structure at the tip of an elongating neuronal axon. It searches for its target cell as it moves.
- Astrocyte
- A type of glial cell in the brain. It connects with neurons through its processes and supports functions such as information transmission at synapses.
NewsLab news
View More ↗ResearchResearch themes
By analyzing chicken brain extract on an F-actin column, the lab discovered a new actin-binding protein, lasp-2. The protein is abundantly produced in the brain, and the lab studies its function, the regulation of its activity, and its molecular evolution, focusing mainly on neurons and astrocytes.
*Illustrative imagelasp-2 in Neurons
In cells derived from glioblastoma, lasp-2 accumulates in lamellipodia and filopodia. In collaboration with RIKEN and Gunma University, the lab is now observing the dynamics of lasp-2 in the growth cones of chicken sensory neurons and in rat hippocampal neurons.
*Illustrative imagelasp-2 in Astrocytes
Astrocytes connect with neurons at the tips of their radially extending processes, but research on their actin cytoskeleton has not advanced much. The lab examined the localization of lasp-2 in astrocytes derived from the chicken cerebrum, and also established culture conditions that induce the cells to form processes resembling those in vivo.
*Illustrative imagelasp-2 in Other Cells and Tissues
In skeletal muscle, the lab confirmed that lasp-2 appears transiently during sarcomere formation and localizes to the Z-lines. It is now also examining the behavior of lasp-2 in chicken fibroblasts.
*Illustrative imageRegulation of lasp-2 Activity
Two-dimensional electrophoresis, in vitro experiments, and phosphoprotein databases indicate that lasp-2 is phosphorylated. The lab is creating mutants in which the phosphorylation sites are altered, and examining their intracellular localization and binding to actin.
MembersFaculty
The Neural Proteomics Lab consists of faculty members and master's and undergraduate students.As of 2022
- LecturerAsako Terasaki
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Chk-UCH1-GFAP-20X-1” GerryShaw / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- lasp-2 in Neurons: “Neuronal Growth Cone” Physicl / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- lasp-2 in Astrocytes: “Glial Cell Types” Artwork by Holly Fischer / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- lasp-2 in Other Cells and Tissues: “Microtubules in Primary Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts” Howard Vindin / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Regulation of lasp-2 Activity: “Human RASGEF1C Protein Tertiary Structure” Vaitvaitedits / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Biomolecular Dynamics Lab (Takano Lab)): “Indian Muntjac fibroblast cells ( )” ZEISS Microscopy from Germany / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Muscle Developmental Biology Lab (Sato Lab)): “Muscle Tissue Capilary in Skeletal Muscle ( )” Berkshire Community College Bioscience Image Library / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Cell Function Regulation Lab (Matsura-Itakura Lab)): “Gram positive budding yeast cells” Microrao / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Epigenome Structure and Dynamics Lab (Osakabe Lab)): “Arabidopsis Thaliana planted in Laboratory” Jucember / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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