2024
18 November, 2024
Lab Excursion
We went on a lab excursion to celebrate Kohei's paper and to welcome David and Katerina from IAPG, Czech. After harvesting potatoes at Nakai Farm in Kobe, we enjoyed a BBQ at Kobe Fruit and Flower Park.
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18 November, 2024
IAPG researchers visit our lab from Czech Republic
As part of JSPS Bilateral Joint Research Project, Dr. David Drutovic（Group Leader) and Ms. Katerina Holubova (Trainee) from Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IAPG CAS) visited our lab. Katerina will stay for a month to learn live imaging techniques.
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22 October, 2024
SMC Complexes: Orchestrating Diverse Genome Functions
Kohei Asai presented a poster at NIG & RIKEN International Symposium 2024 SMC Complexes: Orchestrating Diverse Genome Functions which was held in Numazu from 15 to 18 October, 2024.
15 October, 2024
Age-Dependent Ovarian Toxicity of Chemotherapy
In a collaborative study between Dr. Takenaka of Gifu University and visiting researcher Dr. Takase, we investigated the effects of the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide on the primordial follicles of juvenile mice. Our results showed that younger mice experienced higher levels of DNA damage and apoptosis, leading to a significant reduction in ovarian reserve. This research provides insights into the long-term reproductive risks of cancer treatments, particularly for children and young patients.
Takenaka M*⁺, Takase HM*⁺, Suzuki NN, Saigo C, Takeuchi T, and Furui T (*These authors contributed equally to this work, ⁺Co-corresponding authors),
"Effect and mechanisms of cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian toxicity on the quality of primordial follicles with respect to age at treatment initiation", Reproductive Biology, 24(4), (2024)
doi: 10.1016/j.repbio.2024.100959
・Pubmed
・Reproductive Biology
24 September, 2024
Construction of functional artificial kinetochore beads in cells
The kinetochore is a macromolecular complex built on centromeric DNA of chromosomes. It plays an essential role in chromosome segregation by mediating the dynamic regulation of attachment to spindle microtubules. In this study, we developed functional artificial kinetochore beads in cells. Like native chromosomes, artificial kinetochore beads align at the spindle equator with stable microtubule attachment to the opposite poles. The artificial kinetochore beads will serve as a tool to develop strategies for manipulating chromosome segregation.
Asai K, Zhou Y, Takenouchi O, and Kitajima TS, "Artificial kinetochore beads establish a biorientation-like state in the spindle", Science, Sep. 20: 385(6715), 1366-1375 (2024) doi: 10.1126/science.adn5428
・Pubmed
・Science
11 September, 2024
IDAC Seminar
Tomoya Kitajima gave an invited presentation at IDAC Seminar, Tohoku University held in Sendai on 10 September, 2024.
29 August, 2024
Discovery of mechanisms underlying chromosome abnormality in early embryos
In collaboration with the Hiratani team at RIKEN BDR and Dr. Kyogoku at Kobe Univ (Visiting Scientist in our team), we discovered a mechanism of frequent chromosome abnormality in early mouse embryos. We found that chromosome segregation errors frequently occur at the 4- to 8-cell division, and that these errors are due to a stress caused by developmental stage-specific switch of DNA replication programs. Manipulating DNA replication speed may suppress chromosome abnormality in early embryos.
Takahashi S*, Kyogoku H*⁺, Hayakawa T, Miura H, Oji A, Kondo Y, Takebayashi S, Kitajima TS⁺, and Hiratani I⁺ (*These authors contributed equally to this work, ⁺Co-corresponding authors), "Embryonic genome instability upon DNA replication timing program emergence", Nature, Aug. 28 (2024) doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07841-y
・Pubmed
・Nature
・RIKEN Research News "Chromosome copy errors pinpointed in embryo development"
26 August, 2024
BDR Summer School
BDR summer internship program for undergraduate students was held from August 19-23. Kitajima Lab welcomed 3 students. They had the opportunity to carry out experiments using live-imaging of mouse oocytes and presented their results to the other internship participants.
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16 August, 2024
A new paper from a collaborative research
A new paper from a collaborative research with Dr. Hashiguchi (Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University) and Dr. Takahashi (National Fisheries University) has been published.
Hashiguchi Y, Mishina T, Takeshima H, Nakayama K, Tanoue H, Takeshita N, and Takahashi H, "Draft genome of akame (Lates japonicus) reveals possible genetic mechanisms for long-term persistence and adaptive evolution with low genetic diversity",
Genome Biology and Evolution 2024 Aug 7:evae174. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evae174
・Pubmed
・Genome Biology and Evolution
16 August, 2024
Cell Division Workshop
Shuhei Yoshida gave an oral presentation at the Cell Division Workshop held in Mishima from 25 to 26 July, 2024.
26 July, 2024
Report of aging-associated reduction of chromosomal histones in oocytes
Our study using mouse oocytes revealed that chromosomal histones reduce with age. This aging-associated histone reduction is likely independent of defects causing egg aneuploidy during the normal reproductive lifespan of mice.
Mori M, Koshiguchi M, Takenouchi O, Mukose M, Takase HM, Mishina T, Mei H, Kihara M, Abe T, Inoue A, and Kitajima TS, "Aging-associated reduction of chromosomal histones in mammalian oocytes", Genes to Cells, doi: 10.1111/gtc.13146
・Pubmed
・Genes to Cells
19 July, 2024
Discovery of chromosome size-based spatial pathway to meiotic errors in oocytes
Smaller chromosomes are more frequently mis-segregated in human oocytes, but the underlying processes were unknown. Dr. Takenouchi (Special Postdoctoral Researcher) developed an imaging technique to identify and track individual chromosomes in living oocytes and discovered that smaller chromosomes tend to move to the inner region of the spindle. This internal positioning facilitates the mis-segregation of small chromosomes in aged oocytes, resulting in the production of aneuploid eggs.
Takenouchi O, Sakakibara Y and Kitajima TS, "Live chromosome identifying and tracking reveals size-based spatial pathway of meiotic errors in oocytes", Science, doi: 10.1126/science.adn5529
・Pubmed
・Science
・RIKEN Research News "Unlocking the mystery of chromosomal errors
-How chromosomal errors arise during division in egg cells in mice-"
19 July, 2024
The 76th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Cell Biology
Tomoya Kitajima gave an invited presentation at the 76th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Cell Biology held in Tsukuba from 17 to 19 July, 2024.
19 July, 2024
RIKEN/BDR-NCBS Joint Symposia
Tomoya Kitajima gave an oral presentation at RIKEN/BDR-NCBS Joint Symposia held in Bangalore, India from 10 to 11 July, 2024.
10 July, 2024
Congratulations on the acceptance of two papers
Osamu Takenouchi (SPDR) and Hirohisa Kyogoku (Visiting Scientist) have their papers accepted. Together with co-author and former member Yogo Sakakibara-san, we hold a party to celebrate!
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20 May, 2024
BDR Student Symposium
Zhou Yuanzhuo (JRA) attended the 4th BDR Student Symposium held at BDR, RIKEN on 18 May, 2024 and presented her research. She won the Oral Presentation Award.
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10 May, 2024
A new member joined
So Shimamoto (Research Scientist) joined our lab in May.
10 May, 2024
The MELIS-UPF and RIKEN BDR Symposium
Tomoya Kitajima gave an invited presentation at theThe MELIS-UPF and RIKEN BDR Symposium held in Barcelona, Spain from 18 to 19 April, 2024.
15 April, 2024
New members joined
Remi Kanemura and Miho Sakuma (Student Trainee) joined our lab in April.
26 March, 2024
Master's Degree
Haruki Morioka received her Master's Degree from the Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University. Congratulations!
・Kyoto University News
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26 March, 2024
RIKEN Symposium on Nuclear Structure and Function
Tomoya Kitajima gave an invited presentation at RIKEN Symposium on Nuclear Structure and Function held in Wako from 12 to 13 March, 2024.
26 March, 2024
RIKEN Ohbu Research Incentive Award
Tappei Mishina received RIKEN Ohbu Research Incentive Award. Congratulations!
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28 February, 2024
Chubu Cytogenetics Conference（CCC)
Tomoya Kitajima gave an invited presentation at the 7th Chubu Cytogenetics Conference（CCC) held (online) on 3 February, 2024.
28 February, 2024
Chromosome Workshop 2024
Shuhei Yoshida attended the 41th Chromosome Workshop the 22nd Nuclear Dynamics Meeting held in Odawara from 29 to 31 January, 2024 and gave a poster presentation.
Upcoming Events
6 November - 8 November, 2024
EMBO Workshop "Molecular Mechanisms of Developmental and Regenerative Biology"
Kobe, JAPAN
18 November, 2024
Oocyte Day at Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC
27 November - 29 November, 2024
The 47th Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan
Fukuoka, JAPAN
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