著者

Tamao ENDO

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.1, pp.39-51, 2019-01-11 (Released:2019-01-11)

参考文献数

61

被引用文献数

41

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Glycosylation is an important posttranslational modification in mammals. The glycans of glycoproteins are classified into two groups, namely, N-glycans and O-glycans, according to their glycan-peptide linkage regions. Recently, O-mannosyl glycan, an O-glycan, has been shown to be important in muscle and brain development. A clear relationship between O-mannosyl glycans and the pathomechanisms of some congenital muscular dystrophies has been established in humans. Ribitol-5-phosphate is a newly identified glycan component in mammals, and its biosynthetic pathway has been elucidated. The discovery of new glycan structures and the identification of highly regulated mechanisms of glycan processing will help researchers to understand glycan functions and develop therapeutic strategies.

著者

Yoshikatsu MATSUBAYASHI

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

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

巻号頁・発行日

vol.94, no.2, pp.59-74, 2018-02-09 (Released:2018-02-09)

参考文献数

74

被引用文献数

25

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The identification of hormones and their receptors in multicellular organisms is one of the most exciting research areas and has lead to breakthroughs in understanding how their growth and development are regulated. In particular, peptide hormones offer advantages as cell-to-cell signals in that they can be synthesized rapidly and have the greatest diversity in their structure and function. Peptides often undergo post-translational modifications and proteolytic processing to generate small oligopeptide hormones. In plants, such small post-translationally modified peptides constitute the largest group of peptide hormones. We initially explored this type of peptide hormone using bioassay-guided fractionation and later by in silico gene screening coupled with biochemical peptide detection, which led to the identification of four types of novel peptide hormones in plants. We also identified specific receptors for these peptides and transferases required for their post-translational modification. This review summarizes how we discovered these peptide hormone–receptor pairs and post-translational modification enzymes, and how these molecules function in plant growth, development and environmental adaptation.

著者

Hiromi KATO Masayuki ANZAI Tasuku MITANI Masahiro MORITA Yui NISHIYAMA Akemi NAKAO Kenji KONDO Petr A. LAZAREV Tsuyoshi OHTANI Yasuyuki SHIBATA Akira IRITANI

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

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

巻号頁・発行日

vol.85, no.7, pp.240-247, 2009 (Released:2009-07-31)

参考文献数

27

被引用文献数

9 19

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Here, we report the recovery of cell nuclei from 14,000-15,000 years old mammoth tissues and the injection of those nuclei into mouse enucleated matured oocytes by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). From both skin and muscle tissues, cell nucleus-like structures were successfully recovered. Those nuclei were then injected into enucleated oocytes and more than half of the oocytes were able to survive. Injected nuclei were not taken apart and remained its nuclear structure. Those oocytes did not show disappearance of nuclear membrane or premature chromosome condensation (PCC) at 1 hour after injection and did not form pronuclear-like structures at 7 hours after injection. As half of the oocytes injected with nuclei derived from frozen-thawed mouse bone marrow cells were able to form pronuclear-like structures, it might be possible to promote the cell cycle of nuclei from ancient animal tissues by suitable pre-treatment in SCNT. This is the first report of SCNT with nuclei derived from mammoth tissues.(Contributed by Akira IRITANI, M.J.A.)

著者

Toshio HIRANO

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.7, pp.717-730, 2010-07-21 (Released:2010-08-04)

参考文献数

76

被引用文献数

104 125

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In this review, the author discusses the research that led to the identification and characterization of interleukin 6 (IL-6), including his own experience isolating IL-6, and the roles this cytokine has on autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The cDNAs encoding B-cell stimulatory factor 2 (BSF-2), interferon (IFN)-β2 and a 26-kDa protein were independently cloned in 1986, which in turn led to the identification of each. To resolve the confusing nomenclature, these identical molecules were named IL-6. Characterization of IL-6 revealed a multifunctional cytokine that is involved in not only immune responses but also hematopoiesis, inflammation, and bone metabolism. Moreover, IL-6 makes significant contributions to such autoimmune and inflammatory diseases as rheumatoid arthritis (RA).IL-6 activates both the STAT3 and SHP2/Gab/MAPK signaling pathways via the gp130 signal transducer. F759 mice, which contain a single amino-acid substitution in gp130 (Y759F) and show enhanced STAT3 activation, spontaneously develop a RA-like arthritis as they age. F759 arthritis is dependent on CD4+ T cells, IL-6, and IL-17A, and is enhanced by the pX gene product from human T cell leukemia virus 1 (HTLV-1). Arthritis development in these mice requires that the F759 mutation is present in nonhematopoietic cells, but not in immune cells, highlighting the important role of the interaction between nonimmune tissues and the immune system in this disease. Furthermore, this interaction is mediated by the IL-6 amplifier through STAT3 and NF-κB. Ultimately, this model may represent a general etiologic process underlying other autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. More importantly, the understanding of IL-6 has paved the way for new therapeutic approaches for RA and other autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.(Communicated by Tasuku HONJO, M.J.A.)

著者

Nobuo MIMURA

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

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

巻号頁・発行日

vol.89, no.7, pp.281-301, 2013-07-25 (Released:2013-07-25)

参考文献数

61

被引用文献数

106 190

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Sea-level rise is a major effect of climate change. It has drawn international attention, because higher sea levels in the future would cause serious impacts in various parts of the world. There are questions associated with sea-level rise which science needs to answer. To what extent did climate change contribute to sea-level rise in the past? How much will global mean sea level increase in the future? How serious are the impacts of the anticipated sea-level rise likely to be, and can human society respond to them? This paper aims to answer these questions through a comprehensive review of the relevant literature. First, the present status of observed sea-level rise, analyses of its causes, and future projections are summarized. Then the impacts are examined along with other consequences of climate change, from both global and Japanese perspectives. Finally, responses to adverse impacts will be discussed in order to clarify the implications of the sea-level rise issue for human society.(Communicated by Kiyoshi HORIKAWA, M.J.A.)

著者

Akira ENDO

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.5, pp.484-493, 2010-05-11 (Released:2010-05-12)

参考文献数

82

被引用文献数

253 350

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Cholesterol is essential for the functioning of all human organs, but it is nevertheless the cause of coronary heart disease. Over the course of nearly a century of investigation, scientists have developed several lines of evidence that establish the causal connection between blood cholesterol, atherosclerosis, and coronary heart disease. Building on that knowledge, scientists and the pharmaceutical industry have successfully developed a remarkably effective class of drugs—the statins—that lower cholesterol levels in blood and reduce the frequency of heart attacks.(Communicated by Teruhiko BEPPU, M.J.A.)

著者

Hiroshi HAMADA

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

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

巻号頁・発行日

vol.96, no.7, pp.273-296, 2020-07-31 (Released:2020-08-12)

参考文献数

158

被引用文献数

16 35

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Although the human body appears superficially symmetrical with regard to the left–right (L-R) axis, most visceral organs are asymmetric in terms of their size, shape, or position. Such morphological asymmetries of visceral organs, which are essential for their proper function, are under the control of a genetic pathway that operates in the developing embryo. In many vertebrates including mammals, the breaking of L-R symmetry occurs at a structure known as the L-R organizer (LRO) located at the midline of the developing embryo. This symmetry breaking is followed by transfer of an active form of the signaling molecule Nodal from the LRO to the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) on the left side, which results in asymmetric expression of Nodal (a left-side determinant) in the left LPM. Finally, L-R asymmetric morphogenesis of visceral organs is induced by Nodal-Pitx2 signaling. This review will describe our current understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the generation of L-R asymmetry in vertebrates, with a focus on mice.

著者

Siro KAWAGUTI

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy (ISSN:00214280)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.35, no.10, pp.607-611, 1959 (Released:2006-09-12)

参考文献数

5

被引用文献数

5 5

著者

Koki IKEMOTO Toshiya M. FUKUNAGA Hiroyuki ISOBE

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.8, pp.379-400, 2022-10-11 (Released:2022-10-11)

参考文献数

96

被引用文献数

10

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With the name “phenine” given to 1,3,5-trisubstituted benzene for a fundamental trigonal planar unit to weave nanometer-sized networks, a series of curved nanocarbon molecules have been designed and synthesized. Since the 6π-phenine units were amenable to modern biaryl coupling reactions mediated by transition metals, concise syntheses of >400π-nanocarbon molecules were readily achieved. In addition, the phenine design allowed for installing of heteroatoms and/or transition metals doped at specific positions of the large π-systems of the nanocarbon molecules. Fundamental tools were also developed to specify and describe the locations of defects/dopants, quantify pyramidalizations of trigonal panels and estimate molecular Gauss curvatures of the discrete surface. Unique features of phenine nanocarbons, such as stereoisomerism, entropy-driven molecular assembly and effects of dopants on electronic/magnetic characteristics, were revealed during the first half-decade of investigations.

著者

Takeshi OHAMA Yuji INAGAKI Yoshitaka BESSHO Syozo OSAWA

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.2, pp.58-74, 2008-02-28 (Released:2008-02-12)

参考文献数

47

被引用文献数

17 23

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In 1985, we reported that a bacterium, Mycoplasma capricolum, used a deviant genetic code, namely UGA, a “universal” stop codon, was read as tryptophan. This finding, together with the deviant nuclear genetic codes in not a few organisms and a number of mitochondria, shows that the genetic code is not universal, and is in a state of evolution. To account for the changes in codon meanings, we proposed the codon capture theory stating that all the code changes are non-disruptive without accompanied changes of amino acid sequences of proteins. Supporting evidence for the theory is presented in this review. A possible evolutionary process from the ancient to the present-day genetic code is also discussed.(Communicated by Takao SEKIYA, M.J.A.)

著者

Ken SATO

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.5, pp.207-221, 2022-05-11 (Released:2022-05-11)

参考文献数

83

被引用文献数

3

---

Fertilization is the starting point for creating new progeny. At this time, the highly differentiated oocyte and sperm fuse to form one zygote, which is then converted into a pluripotent early embryo. Recent studies have shown that the lysosomal degradation system via autophagy and endocytosis plays important roles in the remodeling of intracellular components during oocyte-to-embryo transition. For example, in Caenorhabditis elegans, zygotes show high endocytic activity, and some populations of maternal membrane proteins are selectively internalized and delivered to lysosomes for degradation. Furthermore, fertilization triggers selective autophagy of sperm-derived paternal mitochondria, which establishes maternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA. In addition, it has been shown that autophagy via liquid–liquid phase separation results in the selective degradation of some germ granule components, which are distributed to somatic cells of early embryos. This review outlines the physiological functions of the lysosomal degradation system and its molecular mechanisms in C. elegans and mouse embryos.

著者

Matsuo SASAKI Eishiro SHIKATA

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

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

巻号頁・発行日

vol.53, no.3, pp.109-112, 1977 (Released:2006-10-06)

参考文献数

7

被引用文献数

34 55

著者

Tsuneko OKAZAKI

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

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

巻号頁・発行日

vol.93, no.5, pp.322-338, 2017-05-11 (Released:2017-05-11)

参考文献数

43

被引用文献数

5 9

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At DNA replication forks, the overall growth of the antiparallel two daughter DNA chains appears to occur 5′-to-3′ direction in the leading-strand and 3′-to-5′ direction in the lagging-strand using enzyme system only able to elongate 5′-to-3′ direction, and I describe in this review how we have analyzed and proved the lagging strand multistep synthesis reactions, called Discontinuous Replication Mechanism, which involve short RNA primer synthesis, primer-dependent short DNA chains (Okazaki fragments) synthesis, primer removal from the Okazaki fragments and gap filling between Okazaki fragments by RNase H and DNA polymerase I, and long lagging strand formation by joining between Okazaki fragments with DNA ligase.

著者

Tatsuro MATSUMOTO

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.3, pp.33-35, 1984 (Released:2006-10-10)

参考文献数

5

被引用文献数

3 4

著者

Hiroshi TAKAYANAGI

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

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

巻号頁・発行日

vol.96, no.4, pp.159-169, 2020-04-10 (Released:2020-04-10)

参考文献数

49

被引用文献数

9

---

Bone is a critically important part of the skeletal system that is essential for body support and locomotion. The immune system protects against pathogens and is active in host defense. These two seemingly distinct systems in fact interact with each other, share molecules and create a collaborative regulatory system called the “osteoimmune system”. The most representative osteoimmune molecule is receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), which plays multiple roles in the osteoimmune system under both physiological and pathological conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and cancer metastasis to bone. Based on accumulating evidence for such mutual dependence, it is concluded that the relationship between bone and the immune system did not develop by accident but as a necessary consequence of evolution. Here I describe the history of and recent advances in osteoimmunology, providing a perspective in the contexts of both science and medicine.

著者

Motonori FUJIWARA Hiroshi WATANABE

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

Proceedings of the Japan Academy (ISSN:00214280)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.28, no.3, pp.156-158, 1952 (Released:2006-09-12)

参考文献数

1

被引用文献数

3 18

著者

Yoshinori FUJIYOSHI

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.9, pp.447-468, 2015-11-11 (Released:2015-11-11)

参考文献数

49

被引用文献数

1 4

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Electron crystallography is especially useful for studying the structure and function of membrane proteins — key molecules with important functions in neural and other cells. Electron crystallography is now an established technique for analyzing the structures of membrane proteins in lipid bilayers that closely simulate their natural biological environment. Utilizing cryo-electron microscopes with helium-cooled specimen stages that were developed through a personal motivation to understand the functions of neural systems from a structural point of view, the structures of membrane proteins can be analyzed at a higher than 3 Å resolution. This review covers four objectives. First, I introduce the new research field of structural physiology. Second, I recount some of the struggles involved in developing cryo-electron microscopes. Third, I review the structural and functional analyses of membrane proteins mainly by electron crystallography using cryo-electron microscopes. Finally, I discuss multifunctional channels named “adhennels” based on structures analyzed using electron and X-ray crystallography.

著者

Lin Wei JONG Takayuki FUJIWARA Hisayoshi NOZAKI Shin-ya MIYAGISHIMA

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

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

巻号頁・発行日

vol.93, no.10, pp.832-840, 2017-12-11 (Released:2017-12-11)

参考文献数

31

被引用文献数

7

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Volvocine algae constitute a green algal lineage comprising unicellular Chlamydomonas, four-celled Tetrabaena, eight to 32-celled Gonium, and others up to Volvox spp., which consist of up to 50,000 cells. These algae proliferate by multiple fissions with cellular growth up to several fold in size and subsequent successive cell divisions. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells produce two to 32 daughter cells by one to five divisions, depending on cellular growth in the G1 phase. By contrast, in this study, we found that Tetrabaena socialis and Gonium pectorale cells mostly produced four and eight daughter cells by two and three successive divisions, respectively. In contrast to C. reinhardtii, which is committed to cell division when the cell has grown two-fold, T. socialis and G. pectorale are committed only when the cells have grown four- and eight-fold, respectively. Thus, our results suggest that evolutionary changes in cellular size for commitment largely contributes to the emergence and evolution of multicellularity in volvocine algae.

著者

Hisayoshi IGO Shuko ADACHI Hiroshi FURUTANI Hiroshi NISHIYAMA

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

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

巻号頁・発行日

vol.56, no.8, pp.499-503, 1980 (Released:2006-10-06)

参考文献数

11

被引用文献数

9 12

著者

Yozo FUJINO

出版者

The Japan Academy

雑誌

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

巻号頁・発行日

vol.94, no.2, pp.98-128, 2018-02-09 (Released:2018-02-09)

参考文献数

119

被引用文献数

6

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The vibration-based monitoring of flexible civil structures and performance evaluation from this monitoring are reviewed, with an emphasis on research and practice in Japan and the author’s experiences. Some new findings and unexpected vibrations from the monitoring of real bridges and buildings are reported to emphasize the importance of monitoring. Future developments and applications of vibration-based monitoring to civil infrastructure management are also described. Many examples are taken from the author’s past 30 years’ experience of research on bridge dynamics.