Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacogenomics

Staff

Professor　Reiko Sugiura 　sugiurarphar.kindai.ac.jp
	Molecular Biology and Genome Sciences　(2nd grade) Molecular Pharmacogenomics and Drug Development　(3rd grade) Practice of clinical pharmacotherapy　(4th grade)

Lecturer　Shunji Ishiwata 　ishiwataphar.kindai.ac.jp
	Dispensing pharmacy　(3rd grade) Scientific reading in English 2　(3rd grade) Practice of clinical pharmacotherapy　(4th grade) Hospital and community rotation　(4th grade)

Assistant Professor　Ayako Kita 　kitaphar.kindai.ac.jp
	English for basic biology　(1st grade) Practice of clinical pharmacotherapy　(4th grade)

Research

1.　 1. Molecular genetic study on cancer signaling pathways: The analysis of the role of MAPK signaling pathway in carcinogenesis using fission yeast model system. Molecular genetic screen of proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.

2. Molecular mechanisms of drug action and pharmacogenomics using fission yeast model system. Immunosuppressive drugs, Anti-cancer drugs, Anti-manic depressive drugs.

3.　 Molecular, biological and genetic studies of gene (genome) and disease. 4.　Drug Discovery using fission yeast model: chemical genetics, genetic screen of anti-cancer drugs

Keywords: Molecular Pharmacogenomics, Oncogene, Gene therapy, Genome-Based Drug Discovery, Gene knockout, Fission yeast model system, Genome Biotechnology, Genome and Disease

Introduction

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

The main purpose of our research is the understanding of intracellular signal transduction that regulates cell growth and carcinogenesis using the fission yeast model organism. Given the remarkable conservation of the components of signaling pathways, this will provide insights into the molecular mechanism of cellular responses in higher eukaryotes, and this research group aims to develop potential anti-cancer drugs that target the oncogene products.

Our research interests include
(1) molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between Rho family proteins and their effectors and downstream signaling pathway
(2) molecular genetic screen for the regulators and inhibitors of Protein kinase C/MAPK signaling pathway
(3) Study on molecular mechanisms of drug action and pharmacogenomics using fission yeast model system
(4) Molecular biological and genetic study on the relationships between gene (genome) and disease.

Publication (2004-2006)

2006
1. Ishiwata S., Kuno T., Takada H., Koike A., and Sugiura R. Molecular Genetic Approach to Identify Inhibitors of Signal Transduction Pathways. Fission Yeast as a Model System for Drug Discovery in Sourcebook of Models for Biomedical Research (in press)
2. Ma Y., Kuno T., Kita A., Asayama Y., and Sugiura R. Rho2 is a Target of the Farnesyltransferase Cpp1 and Acts Upstream of Pmk1 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Signaling in Fission Yeast. Mol. Biol. Cell, 17, 5028-5037 (2006)
3. Ma Y., Kuno T., Kita A., Nabata T., Uno S. and Sugiura R. Genetic Evidence for Phospholipid-Mediated Regulation of the Rab GDP-Dissociation Inhibitor in Fission Yeast. Genetics 174, 1259-1271 (2006)
4. Deng L., Sugiura R., Takeuchi M., Suzuki M., Ebina H., Takami T., Koike A., Iba S., and Kuno T. Real-Time Monitoring of Calcineurin Activity in Living Cells: Evidence for Two Distinct Ca2+-Dependent Pathways in Fission Yeast. Mol. Biol. Cell, 17: 4790-4800 (2006)
5. He Y., Sugiura R., Ma Y., Kita A., Deng L., Takegawa K., Matsuoka K., Shuntoh H., and Kuno T. Genetic and Functional Interaction between Ryh1 and Ypt3: two Rab GTPases that Function in S. pombe Secretory Pathway. Genes. Cells, 11:207-221. (2006)
2005
1. Deng L., Sugiura R., Ohta K., Tada K., Suzuki M., Hirata M., Nakamura S., Shuntoh H., and Kuno T., Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate-5-kinase regulates fission yeast cell integrity through a phospholipase C-mediated protein kinase C-independent pathway. J. Biol. Chem., 280, 27561-27568 (2005).
2. Sio S.O., Suehiro T., Sugiura R., Takeuchi M., Mukai H., Kuno T., The role of the regulatory subunit of fission yeast calcineurin for in vivo activity and its relevance to FK506 sensitivity. J. Biol. Chem., 280, 12231-12238 (2005).
3. Matsumaru T., Sugiura R., Sakai K., Igarashi T., Kuno T., Comparison of Toxicity and Toxicokinetics/Pharmacokinetics of an α1L-adrenoceptor Agonist in Rats and Rhesus monkeys. J. Pharmacol. Sci. 97, 273-283 (2005).
2004
1. Kita A., Sugiura R., Shoji H., He Y., Deng L., Lu Y., Sio S.O., Takegawa K., Sakaue M., Shuntoh H., Kuno T., Loss of Apm1, the AP-1 Clathrin-Adaptor mu1 Subunit, Causes Distinct Phenotypes and Synthetic Lethality with Calcineurin Deletion in Fission Yeast, Mol. Biol. Cell, 15, 2920-2931 (2004).
2. Ogiso Y., Sugiura R., Kamo T., Yanagiya S., Lu Y., Okazaki K., Shuntoh H., Kuno T., Lub1 Participates in Ubiquitin Homeostasis and Stress Response via Maintenance of Cellular Ubiquitin Contents in Fission Yeast. Mol Cell Biol., 24, 2324-2331 (2004).
3. Sugiura R., Kita A., Kuno T., Upregulation of mRNA in MAPK Signaling: Transcriptional Activation or mRNA Stabilization? Cell Cycle, 3, 286-288 (2004)
4. Maeda T., Sugiura R., Kita A., Saito M., Deng L., He Y., Lu Y., Fujita Y., Takegawa K., Shuntoh H., Kuno T., Pmr1, a P-type ATPase, and Pdt1, an Nramp Homolog, Cooperatively Regulate Cell Morphogenesis in Fission Yeast: The Importance of Mn2+ Homeostasis. Genes Cells, 9, 71-82 (2004).