Investigating T Cell Activities Through
Temporal Dynamics Analysis Using The ‘Tocky’

Fluorescent Timer Approach

Masahiro Ono, MD, PhD
Reader in Immunology
Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London

日時:2024年10月4日(金)
16:00〜17:00

場所:東京大学定量生命科学研究所
生命科学総合研究棟 B棟 301

In this seminar, I will discuss our innovative tool for analysing temporal changes of
individual cells in vivo, ‘Timer of cell kinetics and activity’ (Tocky; or ‘toki’), a tool
that leverages the fluorescent Timer protein’s property to spontaneously transition
from blue to red emission spectrum. Tocky, combined with sophisticated
computational algorithms, offers unique insights into the dynamic processes of
cellular differentiation and activation in vivo. Using Nr4a3-Tocky, which enables
tracking of T cells following T cell receptor (TCR) signalling, we can monitor the
downstream effects of TCR activation and dissect the temporal sequence during
developing T cells. Using Nr4a3-Tocky, we show how dynamic mechanisms of
checkpoint blockade control cancer-reactive T cells. Furthermore, we developed
Foxp3-Tocky, which allows us to analyse temporal dynamics of Foxp3 transcription,
thereby directly tracking the activities of regulatory T cells in vivo. This talk will
highlight how Tocky enables immunologists and cell biologists to explore previously
unanswerable questions regarding dynamic cellular processes directly in vivo.
定量生命科学研究所セミナー

幹事:分子免疫学研究分野
主催:東京大学定量生命科学研究所
後援:公益財団法人 応用微生物学・分子細胞生物学研究奨励会