Research Area

The auditory transduction machinery requires sophisticated molecular structures to convert mechanical forces to membrane receptor potentials. This structure includes the core transduction ion channels and intra- and extra-cellular connecting apparatuses. In Drosophila, two TRP channels, TRPV and TRPN, play critical roles on auditory transduction and amplification. Interestingly the two TRP channels segregate into distinct sub-ciliary compartments in the auditory sensory neuron called chordotonal neuron whose denritic outer segment constitutes ciliary structure. Another protein, NompA, constitutes the extracellular apparatus called dendrite cap which directly contacts with the tip of chordotonal cilia. Thus, trafficking of these proteins into the precise subcellular compartments are essential for their function. In our laboratory, we are searching for the specific mechanisms underlying trafficking and targeting of these proteins.

The THO complex is an evolutionary conserved protein that is essential for the formation of export-competent mRNP. In our laboratory, we recently found that Drosophila THO has novel functions for eukaryotic gene expression. For example, we recently reported that the efficient transcription of piRNA precursor from the dual-strand source loci required THO complex. We also recently found that THO involved in the regulation of gene expression thru regulating genome structure in Drosophila male germlines. We are now investigating the mechanism underlying THO-mediated regulation of genome structure and gene expression.