Date:	June. 28, 2019 15:00~16:30
Room:	Room (232), 2nd floor Bldg. #1 Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Science, Kyoto University
Speaker:	Prof. Benjamin Podbilewicz Israel Institute of Technology
Title:	Evolution of cell fusion

Abstract

Cell fusion is essential for fertilization and organogenesis. GCS1(HAP2) are membrane glycoproteins essential for gamete fusion in plants and protists. To determine whether GCS1 is also sufficient for cell fusion, we expressed the Arabidopsis GCS1 in mammalian cells. We found that GCS1 expression results in the formation of giant cells via cell fusion [1]. The crystal structures of Arabidopsis and Chlamydomonas HAP2s demonstrate structural homology with the nematode C. elegans’ EFF-1 and class II viral fusion proteins [2]. We named this superfamily FUSEXINS: FUSion proteins essential for sexual reproduction and EXoplasmic merger of plasma membranes [1]. I will show data regarding the origin of fusexins.

[1] Valansi et al. J Cell Biol (2017). [2] Fedry et al. PLoS Biol (2018).

（Language: English）

 

Invitator	Lab. of Immunology
	Atsuko Sehara   Tel 075 -751-3826