Y. Okamura

Phenylphenalenones and Linear Diarylheptanoid Derivatives are Biosynthesized via Parallel Routes in Musella lasiocarpa, the Chinese Dwarf Banana

The paper identifies biosynthetic genes and pathways for phenylphenalenones and linear diarylheptanoid derivatives in Musella lasiocarpa using transcriptomics and biochemical assays.

Dual-specificity phosphatases 13 and 27 as key switches in muscle stem cell transition from proliferation to differentiation

The paper identifies Dusp13 and Dusp27 as MYOD target genes that regulate muscle stem cell transition from proliferation to differentiation during myogenesis.

Voltage-Sensing Phosphatase (VSP) Regulates Endocytosis-Dependent Nutrient Absorption in Chordate Enterocytes

This study identifies VSP in absorptive enterocytes, showing its role in promoting endocytosis and nutrient absorption during early development.

Microevolution of Pieris butterfly genes involved in host-plant adaptation along a host-plant community cline

This study examines microevolutionary dynamics of NSP and MA genes in Pieris butterflies across Japan, finding NSP diversity correlates with local host plant diversity while MA shows no local adaptation.

Involvement of I-BAR protein IRSp53 in tumor cell growth via extracellular microvesicle secretion

This study shows IRSp53 promotes tumor cell proliferation through microvesicle secretion, as evidenced by reduced secretion and phosphorylation in knockout cells and increased survival in IRSp53-deficient mice.

Direct detection of mRNA expression in microbial cells by fluorescence in situ hybridization using RNase H-assisted rolling circle amplification

This paper develops a FISH method to directly detect mRNA in microbial cells at the single-cell level without reverse transcription, applicable to both gram-negative and gram-positive microbes.

Molecular signatures of selection associated with host-plant differences in Pieris butterflies

The paper investigates evolutionary forces on NSP-like genes in Pieris butterflies linked to host-plant adaptation, finding positive selection in NSPs but not in MAs or SDMAs.