Kotaro Oka

The paper constructs genomic resources for Ascidiella aspersa and 35 other tunicate species, revealing class-level genomic features and evolutionary patterns through comparative analysis.

The paper demonstrates that axial rotation in Ciona involves leftward bending and clockwise twisting, differentially regulated by TGF-β signaling.

The paper identifies Admp as an upstream regulator of tail bending in Ciona embryos by controlling phosphorylated myosin localization and ventral epidermal cell polarity.

The paper introduces a method to visualize neurotransmission at synapses using split protein sensors, demonstrating functionality in cultured cells, worms, and mouse brains.

The paper identifies a single pair of motor neurons in Ciona that generates rhythmic motor behavior through calcium oscillations and controls tail muscle contractions.