A5045863719- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Congenital heart defects research
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies
- Water Quality Monitoring Technologies
- Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
- Cancer-related Molecular Pathways
- Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factors
- Hand Gesture Recognition Systems
- Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Microbial metabolism and enzyme function
Tamagawa University
2024-2025
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
2015-2024
The University of Tokyo
2003-2014
Tokyo Metropolitan Komaba High School
2011-2014
Japan Science and Technology Agency
2009
Tokyo University of the Arts
2004-2006
To explore the origins and consequences of tetraploidy in African clawed frog, we sequenced Xenopus laevis genome compared it to related diploid X. tropicalis genome. We characterize allotetraploid origin by partitioning its into two homoeologous subgenomes, marked distinct families 'fossil' transposable elements. On basis activity these elements age hundreds unitary pseudogenes, estimate that progenitor species diverged around 34 million years ago (Ma) combined form an 17–18 Ma. More than...
Steroid hormones play essential roles in a wide variety of biological processes multicellular organisms. The principal steroid nematodes and arthropods are dafachronic acids ecdysteroids, respectively, both which synthesized from cholesterol as an indispensable precursor. first critical catalytic step the biosynthesis these ecdysozoan steroids is conversion to 7-dehydrocholesterol. However, enzymes responsible for 7,8-dehydrogenation remain unclear at molecular level. Here we report that...
Urodele newts have unique biological properties, notably including prominent regeneration ability. The Iberian ribbed newt, Pleurodeles waltl, is a promising model amphibian distinguished by ease of breeding and efficient transgenic genome editing methods. However, limited genetic information available for P. waltl. We conducted an intensive transcriptome analysis waltl using RNA-sequencing to build annotate gene models. generated 1.2 billion Illumina reads from wide variety samples across...
In recent years, there has been an increasing need and demand for gas sensors to detect hazardous gases in the atmosphere, as they are indispensable environmental monitoring. Typical that have widely put practical use include conductometric sensors, such semiconductor change electrical resistance of metal oxide semiconductors, catalytic combustion electrochemical sensors. However, is a growing perform better more safely, while also being smaller, lighter, less energy-demanding, costly....
RecQ-like helicase 4 (RECQL4) is mutated in patients suffering from the Rothmund–Thomson syndrome, a genetic disease characterized by premature aging, skeletal malformations, and high cancer susceptibility. Known roles of RECQL4 DNA replication repair provide possible explanation chromosome instability observed patient cells. Here, we demonstrate that microtubule-associated protein (MAP) localizing to mitotic spindle. depletion M-phase–arrested frog egg extracts does not affect spindle...
Recent studies indicate an essential role for the EGF-CFC family in vertebrate development, particularly regulation of nodal signaling. Biochemical evidence suggests that genes can also activate certain cellular responses independently Here, we show FRL-1, a Xenopus gene, suppresses BMP signaling to regulate early step neural induction. Overexpression FRL-1 animal caps induced markers zic3, soxD and Xngnr-1, but not pan-mesodermal marker Xbra or dorsal mesodermal chordin. Furthermore,...
The T-box gene VegT plays a crucial role during mesendoderm specification of the amphibian embryo. While function maternal (mVegT) has been extensively investigated, little is known about and transcriptional regulation zygotic (zVegT). In present study, we used comparative genomics knockdown experiment to demonstrate that zVegT orthologous zebrafish Spadetail/Tbx16 chick Tbx6L/Tbx6, an essential in paraxial mesodermal formation. embryos show several defects patterning trunk mesoderm, such as...
Lefty, antivin and related genes act in a feedback inhibition mechanism for nodal signaling at number of stages vertebrate embryogenesis. To analyze the function inhibitor signaling, Xantivin Xenopus embryos, we designed morpholino antisense oligonucleotide (XatvMO) this gene. XatvMO caused expansion mesodermal tissue head defects. XatvMO-injected gastrulae showed up-regulated expression markers Xbra, Xwnt8, Xnot, Chordin, suggesting trunk-tail organizer. As expected, depletion also as...
Smad-interacting protein-1 (SIP1), also known as deltaEF2, ZEB2 and zfhx1b, is essential for the formation of neural tube somites. Overexpression Xenopus SIP1 causes ectopic induction via inhibition bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling Xbra expression. Here, we report functional analyses 4 domain-deletion mutants XSIP1. Deletion N-terminus zinc finger domain suppressed BMP inhibition, but these were not affected by deletion other domains (the Smad binding domain, DNA-binding...
Hippo signaling is a conserved pathway that regulates cell proliferation and organ size control. Mst1 Mst2 were identified as homologs of hippo core kinases the in mammals. Here, we have characterized role during Xenopus primitive hematopoiesis. We showed strongly expressed ventral blood island, where hematopoiesis initiated. Loss-of-function analysis Mst1/2 revealed morphogenetic defects, including short axis, smaller eyes abnormal epidermis, decreased phosphorylation Yap. morphants did not...
The Yap and TAZ genes encode highly conserved domains which bind various transcription factors. act as transcriptional coactivators to modulate activity. activities of are negatively regulated by Hippo signaling via direct phosphorylation. In this study, we describe the expression patterns during development Xenopus tropicalis. tropicalis (xtYap) (xtTAZ) expressed maternally. xtYap is widely throughout embryogenesis, particularly in facial connective tissues, branchial arch,...
The recombinant N-terminal domain of BC2L-C lectin (rBC2LCN) is useful for detecting not only human pluripotent stem cells but also some cancers. However, the cancer types and stages that can be detected by rBC2LCN remain unclear. In this study, we identified breast carcinoma subtypes rBC2LCN. Compared with rBC2LCN-negative cell lines, rBC2LCN-positive expressed higher levels epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) epithelial marker genes. Importantly, histochemical staining tissues...
Nodal and Nodal-related proteins activate the Activin-like signal pathway play a key role in formation of mesoderm endoderm vertebrate development. Recent studies have shown additional activities apart from canonical pathway. Here we report novel function using cleavage mutants Xenopus nodal-related genes (cmXnr2 cmXnr5), which are known to be dominant-negative inhibitors nodal family signaling. cmXnr2 cmXnr5 inhibited both BMP signaling Wnt without activating animal cap assays. Pro region...
Ras guanyl nucleotide-releasing protein 2 (RASGRP2), one of the guanine exchange factors, is implicated as a critical regulator inside-out integrin activation in human lymphocytes, neutrophils and platelets. However, activities this endothelial cells remain unclear. In current study, we identify physiological function blood vessel formation for XRASGRP2, which Xenopus ortholog mammalian RASGRP2. XRASGRP2 over-expression induced ectopic vascular formation, XRASGRP2-knockdown embryos showed...
Tumourigenesis attributed to residual undifferentiated cells in a graft is considered be significant issue cell therapy using human pluripotent stem cells. To ensure the safety of regenerative medicine derived from cells, must eliminated manufacturing process. We previously described lectin probe rBC2LCN, which binds harmlessly and specifically surface report here technique rBC2LCN remove heterogenous population reduce chance teratoma formation. demonstrate method for separating tumourigenic...
ABSTRACT X chromosome inactivation (XCI), determined during development, remains stable after embryonic cell divisions. However, primordial germ cells (PGCs) are exceptions in that XCI is reprogrammed and inactivated chromosomes reactivated. Although interactions between PGCs somatic thought to be important for PGC little known about them. Here, we performed imaging of reactivation (XCR) using the ‘Momiji’ mouse system, which can monitor chromosome's inactive active states two color...
Abstract A gamete is derived initially from a presumptive primordial germ cell (pPGC) and transmits genetic potential to the next generation. Xenopus tropicalis , which close relative of laevis has diploid genome advantages for genomic research; however, little known about developmental mechanism its germinal lineage. Here, we identified DAZ ‐like gene ( Xtdazl ), encodes RNA‐binding proteins homologous Xdazl in examined expression patterns transcripts during embryogenesis. In this work,...
hox genes are found as clusters in the genome most bilaterians. The order of cluster is supposed to be correlated with site expression along anterior-posterior body axis and timing during development, these correlations called spatial temporal collinearity, respectively. Here we studied dynamics all diploid species Xenopus tropicalis four Hox (A-D) by analyzing high-temporal-resolution RNA-seq databases results showed that collinearity not supported, which consistent our previous data from...
Twelve novel peptides (Pxt-1 to Pxt-12) were isolated from the skin of Xenopus tropicalis, diploid frogs, using topological MS analysis. Among them, Pxt-8, Pxt-9, and Pxt-10 N terminus Pxt-1, Pxt-3 C Pxt-11, respectively. The Pxt-11 shared significant sequence homologies with magainins 1, -2 levitide, respectively, which all X. laevis. Pxt-12 was identical tropicalis XT-6-like precursor previously by ESI-MS/MS. None Pxt contained any Cys, Asp, Tyr or Trp, although Leu Lys frequently found as...
The insulin-like growth factor binding protein (Igfbp) family consists of six members designated Igfbp1-6. Igfbps are involved in many vital biological functions. They physically interact with IGFs (IGF1 and IGF2) act as carriers, thereby protecting from proteolytic degradation. Thus, they function modulators IGF activity. Furthermore, have been reported to IGF-independent activities. other proteins, including cell surface extra-cellular matrix potentially intracellular molecules. In Xenopus...