Y. Otsuka

Bacterial catabolic system of acetovanillone and acetosyringone useful for upgrading aromatic compounds obtained through chemical lignin depolymerization

This paper identifies and characterizes the bacterial catabolic system for acetovanillone and acetosyringone, demonstrating their potential for upgrading aromatic compounds from lignin depolymerization.

Development of affinity beads-based in vitro metal-ligand binding assay reveals dominant cadmium affinity of thiol-rich small peptides phytochelatins beyond glutathione

The paper develops an in vitro metal-ligand binding assay using affinity beads to show that phytochelatins have stronger cadmium binding affinity than glutathione.

Identification of Potent Small Molecule Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Entry

This study identifies small molecule inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 entry through high-throughput screening and validates Calpeptin as a potent inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 and some variants.

Sphingobium sp. SYK-6 syringate O-demethylase gene is regulated by DesX, unlike other vanillate and syringate catabolic genes regulated by DesR

This study identifies DesX as a regulator of desA transcription in Sphingobium sp. SYK-6, unlike DesR which regulates ligM and desB, revealing distinct regulatory mechanisms for syringate and vanillate catabolism.

An unbiased high-throughput drug screen reveals a potential therapeutic vulnerability in the most lethal molecular subtype of pancreatic cancer

This study identifies K17 as a biomarker for PDAC and shows that PPT, a microtubule inhibitor, is more effective against K17-expressing PDAC cells when combined with Gemcitabine.

A Rab11-GEF Parcas recruits Rab11 onto recycling endosomes for rhodopsin transport in Drosophila photoreceptors

This study identifies Parcas as a Rab11-GEF critical for recruiting Rab11 to recycling endosomes and post-Golgi vesicles in Drosophila photoreceptors, with its loss causing rhodopsin accumulation similar to Rab11 deficiency.