著者

Yoshiaki ARATA Yue-Chang ZHANG

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.66, no.2, pp.33-36, 1990 (Released:2006-10-13)

参考文献数

4

被引用文献数

1 1

著者

Yasuhiro FURUICHI

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.91, no.8, pp.394-409, 2015-10-09 (Released:2015-10-09)

参考文献数

67

被引用文献数

105 139

---

Terminal structure analysis of an insect cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (CPV) genome RNA in the early 1970s at the National Institute of Genetics in Japan yielded a 2′-O-methylated nucleotide in the 5′ end of double-stranded RNA genome. This finding prompted me to add S-adenosyl-L-methionine, a natural methylation donor, to the in vitro transcription reaction of viruses that contain RNA polymerase. This effort resulted in unprecedented mRNA synthesis that generates a unique blocked and methylated 5′ terminal structure (referred later to as “cap” or “m7G-cap”) in the transcription of silkworm CPV and human reovirus and vaccinia viruses that contain RNA polymerase in virus particles. Initial studies with viruses paved the way to discover the 5′-cap m7GpppNm structure present generally in cellular mRNAs of eukaryotes. I participated in those studies and was able to explain the pathway of cap synthesis and the significance of the 5′ cap (and capping) in gene expression processes, including transcription and protein synthesis. In this review article I concentrate on the description of these initial studies that eventually led us to a new paradigm of mRNA capping.

著者

Taku KITANOSONO Tomoya KAWASE Yasuhiro YAMASHITA Shū KOBAYASHI

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.pjab.99.022, (Released:2023-09-06)

---

Catalytic asymmetric direct-type aldol reactions of ketones with aldehydes are a perennial puzzle for organic chemists. Notwithstanding the emergence of a myriad of chiral catalysts to address the inherent reversibility of the aldol products, a general method to access acyclic α-chiral ketones from prochiral aryl ketones has remained an unmet synthetic challenge. The approach outlined herein is fundamentally different to that used in conventional catalysis, which typically commences with an α-proton abstraction by a Brønsted base. The use of a chiral 2,2′-bipyridine scandium complex enabled the hydroxymethylation of propiophenone to be run under base-free conditions, which avails effectual suppression of hydrolytic deactivation of the Lewis acid catalyst. Intriguingly, the use of water as a reaction medium had an overriding effect on the progress of the reaction. The sagacious selection of sodium dodecyl sulfate and lithium dodecyl sulfate as surfactants allowed a variety of propiophenone derivatives to react in a highly enantioselective manner.

著者

Haruyuki OKUDA

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.95, no.9, pp.495-522, 2019-11-11 (Released:2019-11-11)

参考文献数

156

---

Since the new era of infrared astronomy was opened by the Two Micron Sky Survey by Neugebauer et al. in the early 1960s, about a half century has passed. During this time, observations have expanded rapidly and widely, to almost every field of astronomy, to reveal new perspectives on the universe. As a result, infrared astronomy has become one of the major branches of astronomy, along with optical, radio, X-ray as well as high-energy particle astronomy. In Japan, we started our infrared astronomical activities at a rather early time, under relatively poor technical and environmental conditions, and using somewhat unconventional methods to overcome these difficulties. Here, a brief survey is presented of developments concerning infrared astronomy during the past half century, while mainly recollecting our footprints in the stream of world activities.

著者

Toshiharu NAGATSU

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.82, no.10, pp.388-415, 2006 (Released:2007-01-12)

参考文献数

137

被引用文献数

31 42

---

Catecholamines [dopamine, noradrenaline (norepinephrine), and adrenaline (epinephrine); CAs] are neurotransmitters in the central and peripheral nervous systems as well as hormones in the endocrine system. CAs in the brain play a central role in versatile functions as slow-acting neurotransmitters functioning in synaptic neurotransmission, modulating the effects of fast-acting neurotransmitters such as glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In this review, I focus on recent advances in the biochemistry and molecular biology of the CA system in humans in health and disease, especially in neuropsychiatric diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD), in relation to the biosynthesis of CAs regulated by a pteridine-dependent monooxygenase, tyrosine 3-monooxygenase (tyrosine hydroxylase, TH) and its pteridine cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). (Communicated by Tamio YAMAKAWA, M.J.A.)

著者

Toshio NARAHASHI

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.84, no.5, pp.147-154, 2008-05-30 (Released:2008-05-15)

参考文献数

64

被引用文献数

87 106

---

Tetrodotoxin (TTX), contained in puffer, has become an extremely popular chemical tool in the physiological and pharmacological laboratories since our discovery of its channel blocking action in the early 1960s. This brief review describes the history of discovery of TTX action on sodium channels, and represents a story primarily of my own work. TTX inhibits voltage-gated sodium channels in a highly potent and selective manner without effects on any other receptor and ion channel systems. TTX blocks the sodium channel only from outside of the nerve membrane, and is due to binding to the selectivity filter resulting in prevention of sodium ion flow. It does not impairs the channel gating mechanism. More recently, the TTX-resistant sodium channels have been discovered in the nervous system and received much attention because of their role in pain sensation. TTX is now known to be produced not by puffer but by bacteria, and reaches various species of animals via food chain.(Communicated by Masanori OTSUKA, M.J.A.)

著者

Takashi NAKAMURA

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.82, no.9, pp.311-327, 2006 (Released:2006-12-12)

参考文献数

63

---

Numerical simulations were performed for the formation process of rotating black holes. It is suggested that Kerr black holes are formed for wide ranges of initial parameters. The nature of gravitational waves from a test particle falling into a Kerr black hole as well as the development of 3D numerical relativity for the coalescing binary neutron stars are discussed. (Communicated by Chushiro HAYASHI, M.J.A.)

著者

Hidehiro HOSHIBA Masato ONO

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.60, no.9, pp.368-371, 1984 (Released:2006-10-10)

参考文献数

12

被引用文献数

5 3

著者

Masaaki SHIONO Naohiro MATSUGAKI Kosaku TAKEDA

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.84, no.10, pp.452-456, 2008-12-30 (Released:2008-12-11)

参考文献数

29

被引用文献数

26 29

---

The X-ray crystal structure of natural commelinin is investigated. The results demonstrate that commelinin is a tetranuclear (4 Mg2+) metal complex, in which two Mg2+ ions chelate to six anthocyanin molecules, while the other two Mg2+ ions bind to six flavone molecules, stabilizing the commelinin complex, a new type of supramolecular complex.(Communicated by Shoji SHIBATA, M.J.A.)

著者

Satomi YOSHIDA Masato TAKEUCHI Sachiko TANAKA-MIZUNO Kayoko MIZUNO Masayuki NAKASHIMA Toshiki FUKASAWA Koji KAWAKAMI

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.98, no.10, pp.517-528, 2022-12-09 (Released:2022-12-09)

参考文献数

104

被引用文献数

5

---

Hospital-based registry data, including patients’ information collected by academic societies or government based research groups, were previously used for clinical research in Japan. Now, real-world data routinely obtained in healthcare settings are being used in clinical epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology. Real-world data include a database of claims originating from health insurance associations for reimbursement of medical fees, diagnosis procedure combinations databases for acute inpatient care in hospitals, a drug prescription database, and electronic medical records, including patients’ medical information obtained by doctors, derived from electronic records of hospitals. In the past ten years, much evidence of clinical epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology studies using real-world data has been accumulated. The purpose of this review was to introduce clinical epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology approaches and studies using real-world data in Japan.

著者

Nagao IKEDA

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.87, no.7, pp.371-376, 2011-07-25 (Released:2011-07-25)

参考文献数

24

被引用文献数

1 2

---

Shortly before the Second World War time, Nishina reported on a series of prominent nuclear physical and radiochemical studies in collaboration with Kimura. They artificially produced 231Th, a member of the natural actinium series of nuclides, by bombarding thorium with fast neutrons. This resulted in the discovery of 237U, a new isotope of uranium, by bombarding uranium with fast neutrons, and confirmed that 237U disintegrates into element 93 with a mass number of 237. They also identified the isotopes of several middle-weighted elements produced by the symmetric fission of uranium. In this review article, the highlights of their work are briefly summarized along with some explanatory commentaries.(Communicated by Toshimitsu YAMAZAKI, M.J.A.)

著者

Sadaaki IWANAGA

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.83, no.4, pp.110-119, 2007 (Released:2007-05-17)

参考文献数

49

被引用文献数

32 45

---

A hemocyte lysate from horseshoe crab (Limulus) produced a gel, when exposed to Gram-negative bacterial endotoxins, lipopolysaccharides (LPS). This gelation reaction of the lysate, so-called Limulus test, has been widely employed as a simple and very sensitive assay method for endotoxins. Recent biochemical studies on the principle of Limulus test indicate that the hemocytes contain several serine protease zymogens, which constitute a coagulation cascade triggered by endotoxins, and that there is a (1,3)-β-D-glucan-mediated coagulation pathway which also results in the formation of gel. Up to now, six protein components, designated coagulogen, proclotting enzyme, factor B, factor C, and factor G, all of which are closely associated with the endotoxin-mediated coagulation pathway, have been purified and biochemically characterized. The molecular structures of these proteins have also been elucidated. Moreover, the reconstitution experiments using the isolated clotting factors, factor C, factor B, proclotting enzyme and coagulogen in the presence of endotoxin, leads to the formation of coagulin gel. Here, I will focus on the biochemical principle of Limulus test for detecting bacterial endotoxins, and its activation and regulation mechanism on the LPS-mediated coagulation cascade. (Communicated by Masanori OTSUKA, M.J.A.)

著者

Masaharu NODA Takashi MATSUDA

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.98, no.7, pp.283-324, 2022-07-29 (Released:2022-07-29)

参考文献数

314

被引用文献数

9

---

Extracellular fluids, including blood, lymphatic fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid, are collectively called body fluids. The Na+ concentration ([Na+]) in body fluids is maintained at 135–145 mM and is broadly conserved among terrestrial animals. Homeostatic osmoregulation by Na+ is vital for life because severe hyper- or hypotonicity elicits irreversible organ damage and lethal neurological trauma. To achieve “body fluid homeostasis” or “Na homeostasis”, the brain continuously monitors [Na+] in body fluids and controls water/salt intake and water/salt excretion by the kidneys. These physiological functions are primarily regulated based on information on [Na+] and relevant circulating hormones, such as angiotensin II, aldosterone, and vasopressin. In this review, we discuss sensing mechanisms for [Na+] and hormones in the brain that control water/salt intake behaviors, together with the responsible sensors (receptors) and relevant neural pathways. We also describe mechanisms in the brain by which [Na+] increases in body fluids activate the sympathetic neural activity leading to hypertension.

著者

Seiichiro OGAWA Shinichi KUNO Tatsushi TOYOKUNI

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.98, no.7, pp.336-360, 2022-07-29 (Released:2022-07-29)

参考文献数

93

---

For over 50 years, our group has been involved in synthetic studies on biologically active cyclitols including carbasugars. Among a variety of compounds synthesized, this review focuses on carbaglycosylamine glycosidase inhibitors, highlighting the following: (1) the naturally occurring N-linked carbaoligosaccharide α-amylase inhibitor acarbose and related compounds; (2) the novel synthetic β-glycosidase inhibitors, 1′-epi-acarviosin and its 6-hydroxy analogue as well as β-valienaminylceramide and its 4′-epimer; (3) the discovery of the β-glycosidase inhibitors with chaperone activity, N-octyl-β-valienamine (NOV) and its 4-epimer (NOEV); and (4) the recent development of the potential pharmacological chaperone N-alkyl-conduramine F-4 derivatives.

著者

Noritada MATSUO

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.95, no.7, pp.378-400, 2019-07-31 (Released:2019-08-09)

参考文献数

70

被引用文献数

26 78

---

Pyrethroid insecticides contain natural pyrethrins extracted from pyrethrum flowers, and their synthetic derivatives, pyrethroids. The present article provides an overview of the structure of natural pyrethrins, and the discovery and development of pyrethroids with an emphasis on the background of selected compounds. The stereochemical relationships among pyrethroid secondary alcohols, and toxicologic and environmental effects of pyrethroids are also discussed. Finally, the pyrethroid resistance of mosquitoes and future aspects of pyrethroids are addressed.

著者

Masamitsu WADA

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.92, no.9, pp.387-411, 2016-11-11 (Released:2016-11-11)

参考文献数

162

被引用文献数

13 25

---

Chloroplasts move toward weak light to increase photosynthetic efficiency, and migrate away from strong light to protect chloroplasts from photodamage and eventual cell death. These chloroplast behaviors were first observed more than 100 years ago, but the underlying mechanism has only recently been identified. Ideal plant materials, such as fern gametophytes for photobiological and cell biological approaches, and Arabidopsis thaliana for genetic analyses, have been used along with sophisticated methods, such as partial cell irradiation and time-lapse video recording under infrared light to study chloroplast movement. These studies have revealed precise chloroplast behavior, and identified photoreceptors, other relevant protein components, and novel actin filament structures required for chloroplast movement. In this review, our findings regarding chloroplast and nuclear movements are described.

著者

Hirofumi YASUE Yuji MIZUNO Eisaku HARADA

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.95, no.2, pp.53-66, 2019-02-08 (Released:2019-02-08)

参考文献数

110

被引用文献数

32 73

---

Coronary artery spasm (CAS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease, including angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and sudden death, occurring most often from midnight to early morning. CAS is prevalent among East Asians and is associated with an aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2)-deficient genotype (ALDH2*2) and alcohol flushing, which is prevalent among East Asians but is virtually non-existent in other populations. ALDH2 eliminates not only acetaldehyde but also other toxic aldehydes from lipid peroxidation and tobacco smoking, thereby protecting tissues and cells from oxidative damage. Risk factors for CAS include smoking and genetic polymorphisms including those of ALDH2*2, endothelial NO synthase, paraoxonase I, and interleukin-6. Accordingly, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and low-grade chronic inflammation play an important role in the pathogenesis of CAS, leading to increased coronary smooth muscle Ca2+ sensitivity through RhoA/ROCK activation and resultant hypercontraction. Ca-channel blockers blocking the intracellular entry of Ca2+ are specifically effective for treatment for CAS.

著者

Tatsuaki KIMURA Tamiko OHANA

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.61, no.8, pp.352-355, 1985 (Released:2006-10-10)

参考文献数

13

被引用文献数

4 5

著者

Sogo OKAMURA Tomohiro OGUCHI

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.86, no.6, pp.539-562, 2010-06-11 (Released:2010-06-14)

参考文献数

102

被引用文献数

11 30

---

This paper summarizes our study on microwave and millimeter-wave propagation in rain with special emphasis on the effects of polarization. Starting from a recount of our past findings, we will discuss developments with these and how they are connected with subsequent research.(Contributed by Sogo OKAMURA, M.J.A.)

著者

Hironori ISHIZAKI

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B (ISSN:03862208)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.80, no.5, pp.195-203, 2004 (Released:2004-09-03)

参考文献数

43

被引用文献数

7 11

---

Molecular characterization of the brain secretory peptides, PTTH and bombyxin, of Bombyx mori is reviewed. PTTH is a 30-kDa homodimeric glycoprotein, the monomer of which consists of 109 amino acids. Two monomers are held together by a disulfide bond. cDNA and gene coding for PTTH were cloned and the precursor protein for PTTH monomer was deduced. A novel 5-kD brain secretory peptide named bombyxin has been discovered from Bombyx brain. Bombyxin is highly homologous to vertebrate insulin-family peptides and possesses the prothoracicotropic activity when injected into brain-removed pupae of a heterologous moth, Samia cynthia ricini, though inactive to Bombyx from which it was derived. cDNA and gene coding for bombyxin were cloned, preprobombyxin protein was deduced, and posttranslational processing to generate mature bombyxin was suggested. The Bombyx genome contains highly multiple copies of the gene coding for bombyxins. Immunohistochemically, PTTH- and bombyxin-producing brain neurosecretory cells were identified. (Communicated by Saburo TAMURA, M.J.A.)