Detail program on symposia
1S2
Dec. 7 (Tue) 9:00-11:30
Room 2 (Portopia Hotel, South Wing 1F, Ohwada A)
| Proteolysis - The key for life |
| Organizers: Hiroyuki Sorimachi (Rinshoken), Shigeo Murata (The Univ. of Tokyo) |
| Proteolysis is an enzyme reaction carried out by proteases. Recently, it has been increasingly reported that proteolysis widely modulates cellular functions including degradation of substrate proteins, utilization of proteolytic fragments, and alteration of substrate functions and/or structures. In the cell, as intracellular proteolysis is a "two-edged blade", it is strictly and appropriately regulated. Accordingly, defects in regulation of proteolytic systems originated from e.g. genetic mutations cause a wide variety of perturbations on life phenomena at levels from cells to individuals. On the other hand, diseases with abnormal proteolytic functions provide us with valuable opportunities to elucidate their physiological functions and molecular mechanisms how protease systems work, leading to our understanding about life phenomena. In this symposium, we focus on physiological functions, functional linkages, and related diseases of major intracellular proteolytic systems such as ubiquitin-proteasome system, autophagy, caspases, and calpains. By discussing with latest findings on these proteolytic systems, we will shed light on the true nature of proteolysis as the key for life. |
1S3
Dec. 7 (Tue) 9:00-11:30
Room 3 (Portopia Hotel, South Wing 1F, Ohwada B)
| Determination and Disruption of Polarity in Cell and Tissue Morphogenesis |
| Organizers: Akira Kikuchi (Osaka Univ.), Atsushi Kumanogoh (Osaka Univ. ) |
| Cell polarity involves the asymmetric organization of functions and morphology, and it is important hallmarks in various physiological aspects. Cell migration and inherent functions and morphology in epithelia cells and nerve cells are based on cell polarity. In addition, imaging to visualize cellular dynamics reveals that cell polarity is crucial for migration and direction of immune cells and neural stem cells. Especially in the developmental processes, multiple cells make a tissue or an organ through polarization and de-polarization. Polarity must be coordinated in space and time for individual cells to form tissues. On the contrary, loss of polarity in cells leads to aggressiveness of advanced tumors. Although much has been learned about how the polarity of individual cells, including an apico-basal or anterior-posterior (in a moving cell) polarity, is established and maintained, how polarized cells are put together to make tissues is not well known. In this symposium, excellent researchers will talk about their recent progress on this question, and we would like to deeply understand polarization and tissue morphogenesis from molecular to individual levels. |
1S4
Dec. 7 (Tue) 9:00-11:30
Room 4 (Portopia Hotel, South Wing 1F, Ohwada C)
| Biology of inflammation-related diseases: From metabolic syndrome to cancer |
| Organizers: Masanobu Oshima (Kanazawa Univ.), Ichiro Manabe (The Univ. of Tokyo) |
| Inflammation is an important host response to maintain homeostasis against injury or infection. However, accumulating evidence has indicated that chronic inflammation is associated with onset and progression of lifestyle-related diseases and cancer. It has been elucidated that chronic inflammation contributes to metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and chronic kidney diseases. Moreover, T lymphocytes and macrophages accumulated in visceral fat accelerate inflammatory responses. On the other hand, macrophages infiltrated in tumor tissues, “tumor-associated macrophages”, induce growth factors, angiogenesis, and remodeling, resulting in tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. Moreover, inflammatory responses activate DNA/RNA-editing enzyme, which can cause genetic alteration in tumor-related genes. In this symposium, we would like to discuss the common biological roles of chronic inflammation in lifestyle-diseases and cancer development, which will be informative for therapeutic strategy of these diseases. |
1S12
Dec. 7 (Tue) 9:00-11:30
Room 12 (Kobe Int'l Conference Center 1F, Main Hall)
| Epigenetic Regulation in Development and Differentiation |
| Organizers: Toru Nakano (Osaka Univ.), Tetsuya Taga (Tokyo Med. and Dent. Univ.) |
| It has been and is being elucidated that epigenetic gene regulation mechanisms consisting of DNA methylation and histone modification play critically important roles in development and cell differentiation. In this symposium, six themes concerning ontogeny from fertilized eggs to organogenesis, cell differentiation from neural and hematopoietic stem cells, dynamic epigenetic modification in imprinting genes and germ cell development, will be presented. Through the understanding of recent information of molecular mechanisms of epigenetic regulation in mammalian development and cell differentiation, we will discuss and foresee the current status of epigenetic gene regulation in mammals. |
1S13
Dec. 7 (Tue) 9:00-11:30
Room 13 (Kobe Int'l Conference Center 3F, Int'l Conference Room)
| Postnatal development of synaptic function and its disorder |
| Organizers: Masanobu Kano (The Univ. of Tokyo), Toru Takumi (Hiroshima Univ.) |
| Elucidation of higher brain functions is still a long way to go. In order to accomplish this dream of neuroscientists, we need to comprehensively relate studies at molecular, cellular, neural circuit, and behavior levels. Formation of functional neural circuits and their experience-dependent refinement during postnatal development constitute a basis for various brain functions. Abnormalities of these processes are considered to be related to mental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. The specific goals of this symposium are to bring together a diverse group of scientists studying molecular, cellular, neural circuit, and behavioral aspects of postnatal development of synaptic functions and its disorder. This symposium is intended to provide a format for the exchange of ideas and information, to discuss the latest research findings and technical advances, and to facilitate the intellectual unification of research in this field. |
2S2
Dec. 8 (Wed) 9:00-11:30
Room 2 (Portopia Hotel, South Wing 1F, Ohwada A)
| The role of lipids in immunity and inflammation |
| Organizers: Akihiko Yoshimura (Kyushu Univ.), Takehiko Yokomizo (Keio Univ.) |
| Eicosanoids (prostaglandins and leukotrienes) have been well characterized as pro-inflammatory mediators in immune responses. Most of the metabolic enzymes in eicosanoid production and eicosanoid receptors were isolated by Japanese researchers, thus, the roles of lipids in inflammation and immunity have been discussed from the aspects of biochemistry in this BMB meeting. Recently, immunologists have discovered unexpected roles of bioactive lipids other than eicosanoids as regulators of immune responses. In this symposium, we focus on sphingosine-1 phosphate-dependent trafficking of immune cells, lipid-dependent phagocytosis, and lectin-dependent immune responses in addition to new immunological functions of eicosanoids. We will discuss those topics for understanding the roles of lipids in inflammation and immune responses from the various views including biochemistry, molecular biology and immunology. |
2S3
Dec. 8 (Wed) 9:00-11:30
Room 3 (Portopia Hotel, South Wing 1F, Ohwada B)
| Reading and regulation of epigenome information |
| Organizers: Kazuhiko Igarashi (Tohoku Univ.), Minoru Yoshida (RIKEN) |
| Post-translational modification of histones and DNA methylation play major roles in regulating gene expression and in controlling specific cellular functions. Their overall state, i.e., epigenome, can be described using high-throughput sequencing technology. In contrast to intuitive expectation, recent progresses have revealed that epigenome is rather dynamic. Epigenome is written, read, and rewritten by diverse molecular mechanisms in response to genetic programs and environmental cues, cumulating in either stable or plastic gene expression patterns depending on cellular conditions. This symposium will focus on dynamics and regulatory mechanisms of epigenome in diverse organisms under both physiological and pathological conditions. In addition, new technologies for detection and imaging of epigenome will be presented. By sharing recent progresses, we hope to bring forth new directions of epigenome research. |
2S4
Dec. 8 (Wed) 9:00-11:30
Room 4 (Portopia Hotel, South Wing 1F, Ohwada C)
| Protein Phosphtases: Basics and Diseases |
| Organizers: Masanori Hatakeyama (The Univ. of Tokyo), Takashi Matozaki (Gunma Univ.) |
| The recent investigation by biochemistry and molecular biology of protein phosphatases has uncovered the new functions of protein phosphatases. Particularly, the use of transgenic mice as well as gene analysis of human disorders have also shown the unexpected functions of phosphatases and how the abnormality of these enzymes participates in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Here we have a special session for the most recent progress in the research field of protein phosphatases as well as lipid phosphatases in BMB2010. |
2S5
Dec. 8 (Wed) 9:00-11:30
Room 5 (Portopia Hotel, South Wing B1F, Topaz)
| Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Progression |
| Organizers: Susumu Itoh (Showa Pharm. Univ.), Masao Saitoh (Univ. of Yamanashi) |
| Anticancer therapeutics remarkably progresses because of development of chemotherapy. However, aggressive tumors which become resistant to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy lead individuals to death. Tumor cells can aberrantly proliferate and create microenvironment in which tumor cells are prone to grow by themselves. In consequence, tumor cells vigorously metastasize and invade to other tissues and organs. Thus, it is very important to understand how tumor cells become malignant and how stroma cells around tumors are involved in tumor progression. In this symposium, we will introduce and discuss current topics about the molecular mechanisms by which tumor cells aberrantly proliferate, metastasize and invade, and development of anticancer therapeutics against new targets. |
2PS12
Dec. 8 (Wed) 9:00-11:30
Room 12 (Kobe Int'l Conference Center 1F, Main Hall)
| Expanding world of autophagy: from molecular mechanisms to pathophysiological roles |
| Organizers: Masaaki Komatsu (Tokyo Metro. Inst. of Med. Sci.), Noboru Mizushima (Tokyo Med. and Dent. Univ.) |
| Autophagy (self-eating system) is a bulk-protein degradation system conserved among eukaryotes in which cellular components including organelles are entrapped into a double membrane structure called autophagosome and then degraded by lysosomal hydrolases. Beside an essential role of autophagy in supply of amino acids in response to starvation, growing lines of evidence have revealed the unexpected roles of autophagy such as innate and adaptive immunity, and quality control for keeping health. However, crucial issues (From membrane origin of autophagosome to the pathophysiological roles) still remain unclear. In this symposium, we would like to discuss the issues of autophagy that we should solve as well as the physiological roles that have become clear one after another. |
2S13
Dec. 8 (Wed) 9:00-11:30
Room 13 (Kobe Int'l Conference Center 3F, Int'l Conference Room)
| Behaviors and Circuits |
| Organizers: Tetsuya Tabata (The Univ. of Tokyo), Yuichi Iino (The Univ. of Tokyo) |
| Brain function depends on neural circuits. However, very few studies of brain function have been based on neurons identified at a single cell level because of the complexity of the neural network. One of the ultimate goals in the study of brain function is to identify, at a single-cell level, the neurons and circuits that cause a behavior of interest and thereby to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved. Kandel’s study of memory formation in Aplysia is a notable example of this approach. A system that comes closer to achieving this goal has been demonstrated in studies with C. elegans, which has only 302 neurons. The recent progress in molecular genetics, imaging and informatics allows us to investigate this topic in even more complex systems. In this symposium, researchers using a variety of systems will present results of research into neural circuits and the molecular mechanisms therein that elicit behaviors of interest, and they will discuss the future prospects of this field. |
3S2
Dec. 9 (Thu) 9:00-11:30
Room 2 (Portopia Hotel, South Wing 1F, Ohwada A)
| Chromosome operating system |
| Organizers: Fuyuki Ishikawa (Kyoto Univ.), Tatsuo Fukagawa (Natl. Inst. Genet.) |
| Chromosomes, which contain genome information, must be replicated, divided, and passed successfully to daughter cells. This cycle (replication and segregation) is essentially ensured autonomously. The principle to ensure the chromosome cycle is called “Chromosome operating system”. A dysfunction of the cycle leads to genomic instabilities and tumor formation. In this symposium, we would like to discuss about recent topics about “Chromosome operating system” including telomere, centromere, heterochromatin, and chromosome structure. |
3S3
Dec. 9 (Thu) 9:00-11:30
Room 3 (Portopia Hotel, South Wing 1F, Ohwada B)
| Recent trends in membrane traffic |
| Organizers: Akihiko Nakano (The Univ. of Tokyo), Hiroshi Ohno (RIKEN) |
| Membrane traffic is widely accepted as a fundamental cellular function in all eukaryotic cells from yeast to man. In addition, membrane traffic is also important for intercellular communications in multicellular organisms, including the central nervous system and immune system. In this symposium, we will learn the recent progress in the field of membrane traffic from the established domestic and international speakers |
3S4
Dec. 9 (Thu) 9:00-11:30
Room 4 (Portopia Hotel, South Wing 1F, Ohwada C)
| Development and Regeneration |
| Organizers: Yoshiko Takahashi (NAIST), Masayuki Miura (The Univ. of Tokyo) |
| The topics presented in this symposium include morphogenesis and organogenesis during animal development, and regeneration and degeneration of tissues occurring in nature. We hear blood vessel formation, neuro-vascular interactions, left-right asymmetry, apoptosis that drives tissue degeneration, and fail-safe transcriptional network. Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these phenomena are presented by speakers who develop original studies using a variety of different model animals. It will be highlighted in this symposium that a combination of traditional developmental biology with new approaches, such as in vivo imaging and immunological concept, promotes our understanding of how animals develop and regenerate. The presentations will be made in English. |
3S5
Dec. 9 (Thu) 9:00-11:30
Room 5 (Portopia Hotel, South Wing B1F, Topaz)
| Ectodomain shedding biology-functional conversion of plasma membrane proteins- |
| Organizers: Shigeki Higashiyama (EhimeUniv.), Soichi Takeda (Natl. Cardiovascular Cent.) |
| Proteolytic release of the extraceller domain of membrane proteins at cell surface termed as “ectodomian shedding” is a regulatory step of intercellular as well as intracellular signaling. The ectodomain shedding of various membrane proteins on cell surface is able to regulate multiple faces of cell fate. However, functional detail of the ectodomain shedding of each membrane protein is largely uncovered. In this symposium, we present the latest information regarding to structural and functional aspects of the key proteases ADAMs and γ-secretase that organize the ectodomain shedding, and biological signals evoked by the ectodomain shedding of membrane-anchored growth factors, the EGF family which represents the most attractive model to understand “ectodomain shedding biology”. |
3PS12
Dec. 9 (Thu) 9:00-11:30
Room 12 (Kobe Int'l Conference Center 1F, Main Hall)
| Biology of cancer: mechanisms of cancer cell growth, polarity, and invasion |
| Organizers: Kohei Miyazono (The Univ. of Tokyo), Hideyuki Saya (Keio Univ.) |
| Transformation of epithelial cells, loss of cell polarity, and invasion and metastasis induce progression of cancer. In addition to autonomous alterations in cancer cells, tumor microenvironment, including inflammatory cells, cancer associated fibroblasts, and blood and lymphatic systems, plays critical roles in progression of cancer. Studies on elucidation of carcinogenesis and progression of cancer have greatly contributed to the progress of cell and molecular biology. In this symposium, mechanisms of generation and maintenance of cancer-initiating cells, and the roles of tumor microenvironment in the invasion and metastasis of cancer will be discussed. Mechanisms of cell survivail and apoptosis, and identification of novel oncogenes and their roles in carcinogenesis will be also be presented. We also discuss new strategies for molecular therapies targeting cancer-initiating cells, tumor microenvironment, and oncogenes. |
3S13
Dec. 9 (Thu) 9:00-11:30
Room 13 (Kobe Int'l Conference Center 3F, Int'l Conference Room)
| Whast is happen when genome component(s) are overlapped? |
| Organizers: Hirokazu Tsukaya (The Univ. of Tokyo), Tetsu Kinoshita (NAIST) |
| How do organisms maintain overlapping sets of genomes or genes? Complete or partial duplication of a genome is often seen as allo- or auto- polyploids in nature. We have also used polyploidization to improve useful plants/animals, since it often results in superior features. However, we do not yet know why partial or whole overlap of genome/gene sets often results in such significant changes in the phenotype. Thanks to development of genome biology, we began to know what is happening in such cases. Here, we will introduce some recent understandings on genome/gene overlapping obtained from studies of plant science in main. |
4S2
Dec. 10 (Fri) 9:00-11:30
Room 2 (Portopia Hotel, South Wing 1F, Ohwada A)
| Frontiers in glycobiology: novel glycan structures, metabolisms and functions. |
| Organizers: Tadashi Suzuki (RIKEN), Takashi Angata (Osaka Univ.) |
| While glycosylation has been widely known as one of the most ubiquitous post-translational modifications of proteins, presence and importance of some novel classes of glycans are appreciated only recently. Notable examples include glycans attached via O-GlcNAc to hydroxyproline, O-Fucose glycans that modify Notch signaling, and O-Mannose glycans on alpha-dystroglycan essential for maintenance of muscular integrity. Functions and biosynthetic mechanisms of these glycans are hot topics in the field of glycobiology. Functional studies of the canonical classes of glycans, or so-called N- (or Asn-) linked and O-linked (O-GalNAc) glycans, by genetic remodeling of experimental animals are revealing previously unrecognized functions of these glycans, while their degradation pathways are still not fully characterized and many interesting discoveries are being made. In this symposium, young researchers will give talks about related intriguing topics. |
4S3
Dec. 10 (Fri) 9:00-11:30
Room 3 (Portopia Hotel, South Wing 1F, Ohwada B)
| Interface between nuclear dynamics and diseases |
| Organizers: Yoshihiro Yoneda (Osaka Univ.), Kiyoshi Miyagawa (The Univ. of Tokyo) |
| The cell nucleus is surrounded by a double membrane, the nuclear envelope and contains genetic information. In the nucleus, DNA replication and RNA transcription occur precisely and timely to maintain and express genetic information. In order for cell function to be maintained in an orderly manner, it is supposed that in the nucleus, there exist functionally distinct nuclear microenvironments called “nuclear niche”. It is probable that the nuclear niche is highly organized and dynamically changes in response to information from the cytoplasm and extracellular signals. On the other hand, it is reasonable to speculate that the disorder of the nuclear niche causes certain diseases. Thus, analysis of dynamic change of the nuclear niche in some diseases helps us understand the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases. In this symposium, we introduce new approaches to analyze the relationship among genes, nuclear niche and disease phenotypes through interdisciplinary studies and propose a new scientific field to realize dynamic network of nuclear microenvironments. |
4S4
Dec. 10 (Fri) 9:00-11:30
Room 4 (Portopia Hotel, South Wing 1F, Ohwada C)
| New Insights into Stress Response and Human Diseases |
| Organizers: Hiroshi Takeda (The Univ. of Tokyo), Hozumi Motohashi (Tohoku Univ.) |
| We are constantly exposed to exogenous chemicals contained in food and air and endogenous chemicals produced under physiological and/or pathological conditions. We are also subjected to various mechanical and physical insults. To cope with the fluctuations of external and internal environments to maintain homeostasis, our bodies are equipped with various response mechanisms. Stress response is a strategy for control of homeostasis. Recent studies have clarified molecular mechanisms of responses to various stresses including oxidative stress, ER stress and osmotic stress. It has turned out that many human diseases are often accompanied by dysregulation of stress responses, either hypofunction or hyperfunction of the responses. Deciphering stress response mechanisms is giving a new insight into protection as well as pathogenesis of human diseases, especially adult diseases, which are one of the major problems in the modern aging society. Another new trend is a challenge to understand the stress response at non-steady state, i.e. differentiating cells and/or proliferating cells, which is a good contrast to the conventional studies on stress response at steady state. Several well-known mechanisms are being rediscovered in different cellular contexts. This symposium elaborates on the new aspects of the stress response studies in relation to human diseases. |
4S12
Dec. 10 (Fri) 9:00-11:30
Room 12 (Kobe Int'l Conference Center 1F, Main Hall)
| Stable maintenance of genomic information and its failure in development of malignancies and diseases |
| Organizers: Hisao Masai (Tokyo Metro. Inst. of Med. Sci.), Masatoshi Fujita (Kyushu Univ.) |
| Cells are equipped with various strategies by which genomic information is stably inherited through generations. Replication, recombination, and repair of the chromosomes are tightly coupled to cope with various threats to the genome, and the processes are also linked to the chromosome partition during mitosis to maintain the genetic integrity of the genome. In this symposium, we will first discuss mechanisms of how various chromosome transactions are integrated in achieving faithful inheritance of genome, and then how the failure of this system leads to various diseases including cancer. |
4S13
Dec. 10 (Fri) 9:00-11:30
Room 13 (Kobe Int'l Conference Center 3F, Int'l Conference Room)
| Peptidyl signaling factors responsible for plant development |
| Organizers: Ikuko Hara-Nishimura (Kyoto Univ.), Tomoo Shimada (Kyoto Univ.) |
| TBA |
