Selected Publications

Kyogoku H, Tarama M, Matsuwaka M, Mishina T, Harada A, Nakagawa R, Kumon M, Shimizu Y, Ohkawa Y, Shibata T, Inoue A, Kitajima TS
Cytoplasmic competition between separate parental pronuclei in zygotes
Nature (2026) doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10417-7.
[Pubmed][Nature][Research Briefings in Nature][News in Science]

Aizawa E, Shimamoto S, Kajikawa E, Hara J, Abe T, Shibuya H, Kitajima TS.
Dynamic blebbing and absence of organelle transfer during mouse oocyte formation.
The EMBO Journal (2026) doi: 10.1038/s44318-026-00780-6.
[Pubmed][The EMBO Journal]

Zhou Y, Asai K, Kyogoku H, Kitajima TS.
Designing protein-based artificial kinetochores as decoys to prevent meiotic errors in oocytes.
Nature Cell Biology 27(11), 2007-2018(2025) doi: 10.1038/s41556-025-01792-w.
[Pubmed][Nature Cell Biology][RIKEN Research News]

Mishina T, Courtois A, Yoshida S, Asai K, Kiyonari H, Kitajima TS.
Kif11-haploinsufficient oocytes reveal spatially differential requirements for chromosome biorientation.
EMBO Reports 26(18), 4419-4435(2025) doi: 10.1038/s44319-025-00539-w.
[Pubmed][EMBO Reports][EMBO Reports Cover]

Yoshida S*, Nakagawa R, Asai K, Kitajima TS*. (*Co-corresponding authors.)
MPS1 promotes timely spindle bipolarization to prevent kinetochore-microtubule attachment errors in oocytes .
The EMBO Journal 44(13), 3794-3823(2025) doi: 10.1038/s44318-025-00461-w.
[Pubmed][The EMBO Journal][RIKEN Research News]

Asai K, Zhou Y, Takenouchi O, Kitajima TS.
Artificial kinetochore beads establish a biorientation-like state in the spindle.
Science 385(6715), 1366-1375 (2024) doi: 10.1126/science.adn5428.
[Pubmed][Science][RIKEN Research News]

Takahashi S*, Kyogoku H*⁺, Hayakawa T, Miura H, Oji A, Kondo Y, Takebayashi S, Kitajima TS⁺, Hiratani I⁺. (*These authors contributed equally to this work, ⁺Co-corresponding authors.)
Embryonic genome instability upon DNA replication timing program emergence.
Nature 633(8030), 686-694 (2024) doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07841-y.
[Pubmed][Nature][RIKEN Research News]

Mori M, Koshiguchi M, Takenouchi O, Mukose MA, Takase HM, Mishina T, Mei H, Kihara M, Abe T, Inoue A, Kitajima TS.
Aging-associated reduction of chromosomal histones in mammalian oocytes.
Genes to Cells 29(10), 808-819 (2024) doi: 10.1111/gtc.13146.
[Pubmed][Genes to Cells]

Takenouchi O*, Sakakibara Y, Kitajima TS*. (*Co-corresponding authors.)
Live chromosome identifying and tracking reveals size-based spatial pathway of meiotic errors in oocytes.
Science 385(6706), eadn5529 (2024) doi: 10.1126/science.adn5529.
[Pubmed][Science][RIKEN Research News]

Ogonuki N, Kyogoku H, Hino T, Osawa Y, Fujiwara Y, Inoue K, Kunieda T, Mizuno S, Tateno H, Sugiyama F, Kitajima TS*, Ogura A*.(*Co-corresponding authors.)
Birth of mice from meiotically arrested spermatocytes following biparental meiosis in halved oocytes.
EMBO Reports 23(7), e54992 (2022) doi: 10.15252/embr.202254992.
[Pubmed][EMBO Reports][RIKEN Research Highlight][RIKEN BRC News]

Mishina T*, Tabata N*, Hayashi T, Yoshimura M, Umeda M, Mori M, Ikawa Y, Hamada H, Nikaido I, Kitajima, TS. (*These authors contributed equally to this work.)
Single-oocyte transcriptome analysis reveals aging-associated effects influenced by life stage and calorie restriction.
Aging Cell  20(8), e13428 (2021) doi: 10.1111/acel.13428.
[Pubmed][Aging Cell]

Courtois A, Yoshida S, Takenouchi O, Asai K, Kitajima TS.
Stable kinetochore–microtubule attachments restrict MTOC position and spindle elongation in oocytes.
EMBO Reports 22(4), e51400 (2021) doi: 10.15252/embr.202051400.
[Pubmed][EMBO Reports][EMBO Reports Cover]

Nishiyama S, Yoshida S, Kitajima TS.
Cdk1 negatively regulates the spindle localization of Prc1 in mouse oocytes.
Genes to Cells 25(10), 685-694 (2020) doi: 10.1111/gtc.12803.
[Pubmed][Genes to Cells]

Yoshida S, Nishiyama S, Lister L, Hashimoto S, Mishina T, Courtois A, Kyogoku H, Abe T, Shiraishi A, Choudhary M, Nakaoka Y, Herbert M, Kitajima TS.
Prc1-rich kinetochores are required for error-free acentrosomal spindle bipolarization during meiosis I in mouse oocytes.
Nature Communications 11(1), 2652 (2020) doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-16488-y.
[Pubmed][Nature Communications][RIKEN Research Highlight]

Ding Y, Kaido M, Llano E, Pendas AM, Kitajima TS.
The post-anaphase SUMO pathway ensures the maintenance of centromeric cohesion through meiosis I-II transition in mammalian oocytes.
Current Biology 28(10), 1661-1669 (2018) doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.04.019.
[Pubmed][Current Biology][Dispatch in Current Biology]
[RIKEN Research Highlight]

Kyogoku H, Kitajima TS.
Large cytoplasm is linked to the error-prone nature of oocytes.
Developmental Cell 41(3), 287-298 (2017) doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2017.04.009.
[Pubmed][Developmental Cell] [Developmental Cell Preview][F1000]
[RIKEN Research Highlight][CDB News]

Sakakibara Y, Hashimoto S, Nakaoka H, Kouznetsova A, Hӧӧg C, Kitajima TS.
Bivalent separation into univalents precedes age-related meiosis I errors in oocytes.
Nature Communications 6, 7550 (2015) doi: 10.1038/ncomms8550.
[Pubmed][Nature Communications][RIKEN Research Highlight]
[CDB News]

Yoshida S, Kaido M, Kitajima TS.
Inherent instability of correct kinetochore-microtubule attachments during meiosis I in oocytes.
Developmental Cell 33(5), 589–602 (2015) doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2015.04.020.
[Pubmed][Developmental Cell] [Developmental Cell Preview]
[RIKEN Research Highlight]

Solc P*, Kitajima TS*, Yoshida S, Brzakova A, Kaido M, Baran V, Mayer A., Samalova P, Motlik J, Ellenberg J. (*These authors contributed equally to this work. Co-corresponding authors.)
Multiple requirements of PLK1 during mouse oocyte maturation.
PLOS ONE 10(2), e0116783 (2015) doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116783.
[Pubmed][PLOS ONE]

Other Publications

Takasu A, Hino T, Takenouchi O, Miyagawa Y, Liang Z, Tanaka S, Mimura T, Ida C, Matsuo Y, Lee Y, Ikegami H, Ohsugi M, Matoba S, Ogura A, Yamagata K, Matsumoto K, Kitajima TS, Miyamoto K.
Characterization of H3K4me3 in mouse oocytes at the metaphase II stage.
Journal of Biological Chemistry May 29:110308(2025) doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2025.110308.
[Pubmed][Journal of Biological Chemistry]

Takase HM*, Mishina T*, Hayashi T, Yoshimura M, Kuse M, Nikaido I, Kitajima TS. (*These authors contributed equally to this work.)
Transcriptomic signatures of WNT-driven pathways and granulosa cell-oocyte interactions during primordial follicle activation.
PLOS ONE 19(10), e0311978(2024) doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311978.
[Pubmed][PLOS ONE]

Kouznetsova A, Valentiniene S, Liu J-G, Kitajima TS, Brismar H, Höög C.
Aurora B and Aurora C pools at two chromosomal regions collaboratively maintain chromosome alignment and prevent aneuploidy at the second meiotic division in mammalian oocytes.
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 12, 1470981(2024) doi: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1470981.
[Pubmed][Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology]

Aizawa E, Ozonov EA, Kawamura YK, Dumeau C-E, Nagaoka S, Kitajima TS, Saitou M, Peters A HFM, Wutz A.
Epigenetic regulation limits competence of pluripotent stem cell-derived oocytes.
The EMBO Journal 42(23), e113955(2023) doi: 10.15252/embj.2023113955.
[Pubmed][The EMBO Journal]

Nishimura H, Ikawa Y, Kajikawa E, Shimizu-Mizuno N, Hiver S, Tabata-Okamoto N, Mori M, Kitajima T, Hayashi T, Yoshimura M, Umeda M, Nikaido I, Kurokawa M, Watanabe T, Hamada H.
Maternal epigenetic factors in embryonic and postnatal development.
Gene to Cells Mar 12(2023) doi:10.1111/gtc.13024.
[Pubmed][Gene to Cells]

Murakami K, Hamazaki N, Hamada N, Nagamatsu G, Okamoto I, Ohta H, Nosaka Y, Ishikura Y, Kitajima TS, Semba Y, Kunisaki Y, Arai F, Akashi K, Saitou M, Kato K, Hayashi K.
Generation of functional oocytes from male mice in vitro.
Nature 615(7954), 900-906(2023) doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-05834-x.
[Pubmed][Nature]

Mori M, Yao T, Mishina T, Endoh H, Tanaka M, Yonezawa N, Shimamoto Y, Yonemura S, Yamagata K, Kitajima TS, Ikawa M.
RanGTP and the actin cytoskeleton keep paternal and maternal chromosomes apart during fertilization.
Journal of Cell Biology 220 (10), e202012001 (2021) doi: 10.1083/jcb.202012001.
[Pubmed][Journal of Cell Biology][Journal of Cell Biology Cover][JCB Spotlight]
[RIKEN Research Highlight]
[Osaka University News]

Hamazaki N, Kyogoku H, Araki H, Miura F, Horikawa C, Hamada N, Shimamoto S, Hikabe O, Nakashima K, Kitajima TS, Ito T, Leitch HG, Hayashi K.
Reconstitution of the oocyte transcriptional network with transcription factors.
Nature 589(7841), 264-269 (2021) doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-3027-9.
[Pubmed][Nature]

Kouznetsova A, Kitajima TS, Brismar H, Höög C.
Post-metaphase correction of aberrant kinetochore-microtubule attachments in mammalian eggs.
EMBO Reports 20(8), e47905 (2019) doi: 10.15252/embr.201947905.
[Pubmed][EMBO Reports]

Nakamura S, Oba M, Suzuki M, Takahashi A, Yamamuro T, Fujiwara M, Ikenaka K, Minami S, Tabata N, Yamamoto K, Kubo S, Tokumura A, Akamatsu K, Miyazaki Y, Kawabata T, Hamasaki M, Fukui K, Sango K, Watanabe Y, Takabatake Y, Kitajima TS, Okada Y, Mochizuki H, Isaka Y, Antebi A, Yoshimori T.
Suppression of autophagic activity by Rubicon is a signature of aging.
Nature Communications 10(1), 847 (2019)  doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-08729-6.
[Pubmed][Nature Communications]

Kim J, Ishiguro K, Nambu A, Akiyoshi B, Yokobayashi S, Kagami A, Ishiguro T, Pendas AM, Takeda N, Sakakibara Y, Kitajima TS, Tanno Y, Sakuno T, Watanabe Y.
Author Correction: Meikin is a conserved regulator of meiosis-I-specific kinetochore function.
Nature 563(7731):E23 (2018) doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0530-3.
[Pubmed][Nature]

Kyogoku H, Wakayama T, Kitajima TS, Miyano T.
Single nucleolus precursor body formation in the pronucleus of mouse zygotes and SCNT embryos.
PLOS ONE 13(8), e0202663 (2018) doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202663.
[Pubmed][PLOS ONE]

Niwayama R, Nagao H, Kitajima TS, Hufnagel L, Shinohara K, Higuchi T, Ishikawa T, Kimura A.
Bayesian inference of forces causing cytoplasmic streaming in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos and mouse oocytes.
PLOS ONE 11(7), e0159917 (2016) doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159917. 
[Pubmed][PLOS ONE]

Ke M-T, Nakai Y, Fujimoto S, Takayama R, Yoshida S, Kitajima TS, Sato M, Imai, T.
Super-Resolution Mapping of Neuronal Circuitry With an Index-Optimized Clearing Agent.
Cell Reports 14(11), 2718-2732 (2016) doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.02.057.
[Pubmed][Cell Reports] [RIKEN Research Highlight] >[CDB News]

Isokane M, Walter T, Mahen R, Nijmeijer B, Hériché JK, Miura K, Maffini S, Ivanov MP, Kitajima TS, Peters JM, Ellenberg J.
ARHGEF17 is an essential spindle assembly checkpoint factor that targets Mps1 to kinetochores.
Journal of Cell Biology 212(6), 647-659 (2016) doi: 10.1083/jcb.201408089.
[Pubmed][J Cell Biol]

Mayer A, Baran V, Sakakibara Y, Brzakova A, Ferencova I, Motlik J, Kitajima TS, Schultz RM, Solc P.
DNA damage response during mouse oocyte maturation.
Cell Cycle 15(4), 546-558 (2016) doi: 10.1080/15384101.2015.1128592. 
[Pubmed][Cell Cycle]

Kyogoku H, Kitajima TS, Miyano T.
Nucleolus Precursor Body (NPB): A Distinct Structure in Mammalian Oocytes and Zygotes.
Nucleus 5(6), 493-498 (2014) doi: 10.4161/19491034.2014.990858.
[Pubmed][Nucleus]

Kitajima TS, Ohsugi M, Ellenberg J.
Complete kinetochore tracking reveals error-prone homologous chromosome biorientation in mammalian oocytes.
Cell 146(4), 568-581 (2011) doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.07.031.
[Pubmed][Cell][Kinetochore Track Database]
[Cell Preview][Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology]
[ABC News(Australia)][CBC News(Canada)]

Tanno Y, Kitajima TS, Honda T, Ando Y, Ishiguro K, Watanabe Y.
Phosphorylation of mammalian Sgo2 by Aurora B recruits PP2A and MCAK to centromeres.
Genes & Development 24(19), 2169-2179 (2010) doi: 10.1101/gad.1945310.
[Pubmed][Genes & Development]

Lee J*, Kitajima TS*, Tanno Y, Yoshida K, Morita T, Miyano T, Miyake M, Watanabe Y. (*These authors contributed equally to this work.)
Unified mode of centromeric protection by shugoshin in mammalian oocytes and somatic cells.
Nature Cell Biology 10(1), 42-52 (2008) doi: 10.1038/ncb1667.
[Pubmed][Nature Cell Biology]

Kawashima SA, Tsukahara T, Langegger M, Hauf S, Kitajima TS, Watanabe Y.
Shugoshin enables tension-generating attachment of kinetochores by loading Aurora to centromeres.
Genes & Development 21(4), 420-435 (2007) doi: 10.1101/gad.1497307.
[Pubmed][Genes & Development]

Kitajima TS, Sakuno T, Ishiguro K, Iemura S, Natsume T, Kawashima SA, Watanabe Y.
Shugoshin collaborates with protein phosphatase 2A to protect cohesin.
Nature 441(7089), 46-52 (2006) doi: 10.1038/nature04663. 

[Pubmed][Nature]

Kitajima TS, Hauf S, Ohsugi M, Yamamoto T, Watanabe Y.
Human Bub1 defines the persistent cohesion site along the mitotic chromosome by affecting shugoshin localization.
Current Biology 15(4), 353-359 (2005)  doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2004.12.044.
[Pubmed][Current Biology]

Kitajima TS, Kawashima SA, Watanabe Y.
The conserved kinetochore protein shugoshin protects centromeric cohesion during meiosis.
Nature 427(6974), 510-517 (2004) doi: 10.1038/nature02312.
[Pubmed][Nature]

Kitajima TS, Miyazaki Y, Yamamoto M, Watanabe, Y.
Rec8 cleavage by separase is required for meiotic nuclear divisions in fission yeast.
EMBO Journal 22(20), 5643-5653 (2003) doi: 10.1093/emboj/cdg527.
[Pubmed][EMBO Journal]

Kitajima TS*, Yokobayashi S*, Yamamoto M, Watanabe Y.(* These authors contributed equally to this work.)
Distinct cohesin complexes organize meiotic chromosome domains.
Science 300(5622), 1152-1155 (2003) doi: 10.1126/science.1083634.
[Pubmed][Science]

Nonaka N*, Kitajima T*, Yokobayashi S, Xiao G, Yamamoto M, Grewal S, Watanabe Y. (* These authors contributed equally to this work.)
Recruitment of cohesin to heterochromatic regions by Swi6/HP1 in fission yeast.
Nature Cell Biology 4(1), 89-93 (2002)  doi: 10.1038/ncb739.
[Pubmed][Nature Cell Biology]

Review

Kitajima TS.
Molecular basis of chromosome segregation and age-associated errors in oocyte meiosis I
Biology of Reproduction (2026) doi:10.1093/biolre/ioag086.
[Pubmed][Biology of Reproduction]

Kyogoku H, Kitajima TS.
The large cytoplasmic volume of oocyte.
Journal of Reproduction and Development 69(1), 1-9 (2023) doi: 10.1262/jrd.2022-101.
[Pubmed][Journal of Reproduction and Development]

Kitajima TS.
Mechanisms of kinetochore-microtubule attachment errors in mammalian oocytes.
Development, Growth, & Differentiation 60(1), 33-43 (2018) doi: 10.1111/dgd.12410. 
[Pubmed][Development, Growth, & Differentiation]

Watanabe Y, Kitajima TS.
Shugoshin protects cohesin complexes at centromeres.
Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 360(1455), 515-521 (2005) doi: 10.1098/rstb.2004.1607.
[Pubmed][Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci.]

Book

Courtois A, Solc P, Kitajima TS.
Triple-color live imaging of mouse oocytes.
Mouse Oocyte Development. Springer, 1818, 89-97 (2018) doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8603-3_10.
[Pubmed][Springer]

Kyogoku H, Yoshida S, Kitajima TS.
Cytoplasmic removal, enucleation, and cell fusion of mouse oocytes.
Methods in Cell Biology. Elsevier, 144, 459-474 (2018) doi: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2018.03.038.
[Pubmed][Elsevier]

Yoshida S, Sakakibara Y, Kitajima TS.
Live Imaging of Intracellular Dynamics During Meiotic Maturation in Mouse Oocytes.
Oogenesis: Methods and Protocols. Springer New York, 241-251 (2016) doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3795-0_18.
[Pubmed][Springer]