S. Suzuki

De novo design of mini-proteins as specific binders to PACAP-38, a key mediator of migraine

This study designs mini-proteins that bind PACAP-38 with high affinity, showing improved potency and stability compared to earlier versions.

Macro-environment strongly interacts with warming in a global analysis of decomposition

This study analyzes decomposition responses to warming across global macro-environmental gradients, finding that warming effects vary significantly depending on moisture and temperature, with a threshold of 5.2°C for significant decomposition increase.

Human spermatogonial stem cells retain states with a foetal-like signature

This study identifies a foetal-like state 0B in human spermatogonial stem cells that maintains a suppressive transcriptomic program, contrasting with rodent models where this state is not maintained into adulthood.

A Novel Support Vector Machine-Based One-Day, Single-Dose Prediction Model of Genotoxic Hepatocarcinogenicity in Rats

This paper develops a support vector machine-based model to predict genotoxic hepatocarcinogens in rats using gene expression data from a single dose and day of exposure.

Extensive distribution of β-1,2-glucanases: finding of new glycoside hydrolase families of β-1,2-glucanases

The paper identifies three new glycoside hydrolase families of β-1,2-glucanases and reveals their functional and structural relationships within a superfamily.

Akaluc bioluminescence offers superior sensitivity to track in vivo dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection

This study introduces AkaBLI, a method using Akaluc bioluminescence to track SARS-CoV-2 infection in vivo with higher sensitivity than NanoLuc, showing its utility in monitoring viral dynamics and vaccine efficacy.

NEDD4-binding protein 1 suppresses HBV replication by degrading HBV RNAs

This paper identifies N4BP1 as a host factor that suppresses HBV replication by degrading HBV RNAs, with its KH-like and RNase domains required for this effect.

Granulomatous inflammatory responses are elicited in the liver of PD-1 knockout mice by de novo genome mutagenesis

This study shows that PD-1 knockout mice with genome mutations develop liver granulomatous inflammation, supporting PD-1's role in suppressing autoimmune responses to neoantigens.

Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 XBB.1.5 variant

The paper analyzes the virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 XBB.1.5 variant, showing reduced pathogenicity and impaired MHC expression due to mutations in ORF8 and S.

A role for Vps13-mediated lipid transfer at the ER-endosome contact site in ESCRT-mediated sorting

The paper identifies Vps13-mediated lipid transfer at ER-endosome contact sites as essential for ESCRT-mediated sorting during MVB formation.

The detection of brood parasitism and quasi-parasitism in the burying beetle Nicrophorus quadripunctatus under natural conditions

The paper investigates brood parasitism and quasi-parasitism in burying beetles under natural conditions and finds evidence of both phenomena occurring with certain frequencies.

Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 XBB variant derived from recombination of two Omicron subvariants

This study identifies XBB as a SARS-CoV-2 variant resulting from recombination of BA.2 subvariants, showing increased resistance to neutralizing antibodies and enhanced fusogenicity compared to BA.2.75.

Dynamics of species-rich predator-prey networks and seasonal alternations of keystone species

The paper reconstructs predator-prey interaction networks over time in a grassland ecosystem, showing dynamic shifts in network structure and keystone species roles.

Complete loss of RelA and SpoT homologs in Arabidopsis reveals the importance of the plastidial stringent response in the interplay between chloroplast metabolism and plant defense response

This study shows that loss of plastid ppGpp synthases/hydrolases in Arabidopsis leads to reduced ppGpp levels, leaf chlorosis, and enhanced defense gene expression under nitrogen starvation.

Single mutation makes Escherichia coli an insect mutualist

The paper shows that a single mutation in E. coli enables it to become an insect mutualist by disrupting carbon catabolite repression.

Modeling Pulse Dynamics of Juvenile Fish Enables the Short-term Forecasting of Population Dynamics in Japanese Pufferfish: A Latent Variable Approach

This study uses a latent-variable approach to standardize small-scale survey data of juvenile Japanese pufferfish, improving short-term population forecasting accuracy.

An efficient polymer cocktail-based transportation method for cartilage tissue, yielding chondrocytes with enhanced hyaline cartilage expression during in vitro culturing

This study compares two transport methods for cartilage tissue, finding that a thermo-reversible gelation polymer (TGP) based method yields higher cell counts and better hyaline cartilage gene expression than Euro-Collins solution.

Unique metabolic strategies in Hadean analogues reveal hints for primordial physiology

The paper investigates metabolic strategies in Hadean analogues, revealing unique non-CO2-reducing pathways that may inform primordial physiology.

A PX-BAR protein Mvp1/SNX8 and a dynamin-like GTPase Vps1 drive endosomal recycling

The paper identifies a novel endosomal recycling pathway in yeast and humans involving Mvp1/SNX8 and Vps1, distinct from retromer and Snx4 pathways.

SARS-CoV-2 Requires Cholesterol for Viral Entry and Pathological Syncytia Formation

This study identifies cholesterol's essential role in SARS-CoV-2 membrane fusion and syncytia formation, suggesting statins may benefit COVID-19 patients.

Phenotypic reconstruction of the last universal common ancestor reveals a complex cell

This study reconstructs the phenotype of the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) using ancestral character reconstruction, finding it to be a complex prokaryotic cell with a cell wall, motility, and thermophilic traits.

Improved synthetic lipidation-based protein translocation system for SNAP-tag fusion proteins

This paper improves a synthetic lipidation system for translocating SNAP-tag fusion proteins to the plasma membrane, enhancing its applicability for controlling cell-signaling molecules.

Plastidial (p)ppGpp synthesis by the Ca2+-dependent RelA-SpoT homolog regulates the adaptation of chloroplast gene expression to darkness in Arabidopsis

This study shows that CRSH-dependent (p)ppGpp synthesis in Arabidopsis regulates plastid gene expression adaptation to darkness by transiently increasing ppGpp levels, which is counteracted by RSH1, RSH2, and RSH3.