T. Watanabe

5-Deazaflavin (TND1128) and its hybrid analogs are cytoprotective against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress.

This study shows that TND1128 and its analogs protect cells from H2O2-induced oxidative stress by enhancing mitochondrial function.

Anoxygenic phototrophic Chloroflexota member uses a Type I reaction center

The paper cultivates a novel anoxygenic phototrophic bacterium from the Chloroflexota phylum that uses a Type I reaction center, revealing evolutionary insights into phototrophy.

Development of a new genotype-phenotype linked antibody screening system

This paper develops a new antibody screening system using a Golden Gate-based dual-expression vector to rapidly isolate high-affinity cross-reactive antibodies from immunized mice.

Lignin isolated by microwave-assisted acid-catalyzed solvolysis induced cell death on mammalian tumor cells by modulating apoptotic pathways

This study shows that MASL lignin induces cell death in tumor cells by modulating apoptotic pathways and suppressing anti-apoptotic pathways in vitro and in vivo.

The FHA domain is essential for the autoinhibition of KIF1A/UNC-104

The paper investigates the role of the FHA domain in regulating dimerization of DmUNC-104 and links abnormal dimerization to human diseases.

Emergence of a senescent and inflammatory pulmonary CD4+ T cell population prior to lung allograft failure

The paper identifies CD4+CD57+PD1+ T cells in lung transplant recipients that predict allograft dysfunction and are associated with fibrosis in both human and mouse models.

Characterizing Human KIF1Bβ Motor Activity by Single-Molecule Motility Assays and Caenorhabtidis elegans Genetics.

This study characterizes KIF1Bβ motor activity using single-molecule assays and C. elegans genetics, showing reduced activity due to a disease mutation.

Atf3 controls transitioning in female mitochondrial cardiomyopathy as identified by single-cell transcriptomics

This study identifies Atf3 as a key regulator of transition from compensation to dysfunction in female mitochondrial cardiomyopathy using single-cell transcriptomics.

Kaposis sarcoma-associated herpesvirus ORF67.5 functions as a component of the terminase complex

This study identifies ORF67.5 as a critical component of the KSHV terminase complex, essential for TR cleavage, capsid formation, and virus production.

Conserved cysteine residues in Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus ORF34 are necessary for viral production and viral pre-initiation complex formation.

This study identifies four conserved cysteine residues in KSHV ORF34 essential for vPIC formation and viral production through alanine-scanning mutants and structural modeling.

Taxonomic difference in marine bloom-forming phytoplanktonic species affects dynamics of both bloom-responding prokaryotes and prokaryotic viruses

This study shows that different phytoplankton species affect the dynamics of prokaryotes and their viruses during blooms.

oskar acts with the transcription factor Creb to regulate long-term memory in crickets

The paper shows oskar works with Creb to regulate long-term memory in crickets, supporting its evolutionary origin in neural functions.

A unique case in which Kimoto-style fermentation was completed with Leuconostoc as the dominant genus without transitioning to Lactobacillus.

The paper characterizes a unique Kimoto-style fermentation process where Leuconostoc dominates without transitioning to Lactobacillus, differing from previously reported microbial patterns.

A comprehensive list of the replication promoters of Bunyavirales reveals a unique promoter structure in Nairoviridae differing from other virus families

The paper identifies a unique GC-rich promoter structure in Nairoviridae, distinguishing it from other Bunyavirales families, and provides a comprehensive list of replication promoters.

Actin nano-architecture of phagocytic podosomes

The paper uses advanced microscopy techniques to characterize the structure of phagocytic podosomes during frustrated phagocytosis, revealing their unique actin architecture and associated protein distributions.

The contribution of Kaposis sarcoma-associated herpesvirus ORF7 and its zinc-finger motif to viral genome cleavage and capsid formation

This study investigates the role of KSHV ORF7 and its zinc-finger motif in viral genome cleavage and capsid formation, revealing that ORF7 acts after ORF17 and is essential for proper capsid assembly and virion production.

Avian H7N9 influenza viruses are evolutionarily constrained by stochastic processes during replication and transmission in mammals

This study shows that H7N9 avian influenza viruses face strong evolutionary constraints during mammalian transmission, making human adaptation unlikely without rare, stochastic events.

Frequency of a nucleotide overhang at the 5' end of hemorrhagic fever mammarenavirus genomes in public sequence data

The paper examines the frequency of a 5' guanine overhang in mammarenavirus genomes and links it to their pathogenicity.

Morphological variation and phylogeny of Karenia selliformis (Gymnodiniales, Dinophyceae) in an intensive cold-water algal bloom in eastern Hokkaido, Japan in September-November 2021

The paper examines the morphology and phylogeny of Karenia selliformis and other co-occurred dinoflagellates in a harmful algal bloom in eastern Hokkaido, Japan, identifying morphological variation and genetic similarity to a bloom in Kamchatka, Russia.

Dynamics of peripheral blood flow across sleep stages

This study compares pulse rate variability (PRV) and heart rate variability (HRV) across sleep stages using peripheral blood flow measurements, finding PRV provides similar information to HRV and may offer additional insights.

Aberrant localization of CDC42 C-terminal variants to the Golgi apparatus drives pyrin inflammasome-dependent autoinflammation

This study identifies that CDC42 C-terminal variants cause aberrant Golgi localization, leading to pyrin inflammasome activation and autoinflammation.

Inhibition of immunoglobulin class-switching prevents pemphigus onset in desmoglein 3-specific B cell receptor knock-in mouse

This study shows that inhibiting immunoglobulin class-switching prevents pemphigus onset in mice, with FcγRIIB signaling attenuation contributing to disease.

Edge strand of Escherichia coli BepA interacts with immature LptD on the β-barrel assembly machine to direct it to on- and off-pathways

This study identifies how BepA interacts with immature LptD on the BAM complex to direct it to assembly or degradation pathways.

Optimization of an LNP-mRNA vaccine candidate targeting SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain

This study optimizes an LNP-mRNA vaccine targeting SARS-CoV-2 RBD by removing reactogenic materials, improving immunogenicity and protection in macaques.

Comprehensive metabolic engineering for fermenting glycerol efficiently in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

This paper engineers Saccharomyces cerevisiae to efficiently ferment glycerol into ethanol, achieving high conversion efficiency and titer, with potential applications in biorefineries and sustainable industries.

Genomic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 can be accelerated by mutations in the nsp14 gene

The paper investigates how mutations in the nsp14 gene of SARS-CoV-2 affect genomic diversity and evolution, finding that the P203L mutation increases evolutionary rate and genomic variation.

On-site eDNA detection of species using ultra-rapid mobile PCR

This study develops an ultra-rapid mobile PCR method for on-site eDNA detection of aquatic species, demonstrating high detectability and faster results than traditional lab-based approaches.

Effects of species traits and ecosystem characteristics on species detection by eDNA metabarcoding in lake fish communities

This study evaluates how species traits and ecosystem characteristics affect eDNA detection rates in lake fish communities across Japan.

Epstein-Barr virus tegument protein BGLF2 in exosomes released from virus-producer cells assists de novo infection

This study identifies BGLF2, an EBV tegument protein, as being encapsulated in exosomes that enhance viral infection by boosting gene expression and suppressing innate immunity.

Production the industrial levels of bioethanol from glycerol by engineered yeast "Bioethanol-4th generation"

This paper develops an engineered yeast strain capable of efficiently fermenting glycerol to produce high levels of ethanol, achieving up to 98% conversion efficiency.