Tohoku University
Graduate School of Dentistry

Research

Disease Management DentistryOral Physiology

Our research themes are as follows: 1) Neural mechanisms of sensory and motor system, 2) Psychophysical studies on gustatory function and oral fat sensitivity, 3) Molecular mechanisms of differentiation, regeneration, and apoptosis in osteoblasts and neurons. We perform functional imaging experiments in animals, psychophysical experiments in humans, and cell-level experiments by using physiological and molecular biological techniques.

Staff

Topics of Research

  • Neural mechanisms of sensory and motor system
  • Psychophysical studies on gustatory function and oral fat sensitivity
  • Molecular mechanisms of differentiation, regeneration, and apoptosis in osteoblasts and neurons

Recent Publications

  1. Gengyo-Ando, K., Osawa-Noguchi, A., Ando, H., Nakai, J. Functional analysis of epilepsy-linked pathogenic variants of the Munc18-1 gene in the inhibitory nervous system of Caenorhabditis elegans. MicroPubl Biol. 2024 Apr　22;2024:10.17912/micropub.biology.001174.
  2. Gengyo-Ando, K., Kumagai M, Ando, H., Nakai, J.. Domain 3a mutation of VPS33A suppresses larval arrest phenotype in the loss of VPS45 in Caenorhabditis elegans. MicroPubl Biol. 2024 Mar 21;2024:10.17912/micropub.biology.001155.
  3. Hamano, S., Noguchi, T., Asai, Y., Ito, R., Komatsu, R., Sato, T., Inoue, A., Maruyama, T., Kudo, T., Hirata, Y., Shindo, S., Uchida, Y., Hwang, GW., Matsuzawa, A. Aggregability of the SQSTM1/p62-based aggresome-like induced structures determines the sensitivity to parthanatos. Cell Death Discov. Feb 12;10(1):74, 2024.
  4. Tominami, K., Kudo, T., Noguchi, T., Hayashi, Y., Luo, Y.R., Tanaka, T., Matsushita, A., Izumi, S., Sato, H., Gengyo-Ando, K., Matsuzawa, A., Hong, G. and Nakai, J. Physical Stimulation Methods Developed for In Vitro Neuronal Differentiation Studies of PC12 Cells: A Comprehensive Review. Int J Mol Sci. 25: 772-772, 2024.
  5. Gengyo-Ando K, Tateyama M, Mitani S, Ando H, Nakai J. A humanized Caenorhabditis elegans model for studying pathogenic mutations in VPS45, a protein essential for membrane trafficking, associated with severe congenital neutropenia. MicroPubl Biol. 2023 Nov 27;2023:10.17912/micropub.biology.001052.
  6. Shiba, N., Yang, X., Sato, M., Kadota, S., Suzuki, Y., Agata, M., Nagamine, K., Izumi, M., Honda, Y., Koganehira, T., Kobayashi, H., Ichimura, H., Chuma, S., Nakai, J., Tohyama, S., Fukuda, K., Miyazaki, D., Nakamura, A., Shiba, Y. Efficacy of exon-skipping therapy for DMD cardiomyopathy with mutations in actin binding domain 1. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 2023 Oct 19;34:102060.
  7. Nakai, N., Sato, M., Yamashita, O., Sekine, Y., Fu, X., Nakai, J., Zalesky, A., Takumi, T. Virtual reality-based real-time imaging reveals abnormal cortical dynamics during behavioral transitions in a mouse model of autism. Cell Rep. 2023 Apr 25;42(4):112258.
  8. Ito, T., Ota, K., Ueno, K., Oisi, Y., Matsubara, C., Kobayashi, K., Ohkura, M., Nakai, J., Murayama, M. and Aonishi T.: Low computational-cost cell detection method for calcium imaging data. Neurosci Res. 179: 39-50, 2022.
  9. Okada, Y., Hosoi, N., Matsuzaki, Y., Fukai, Y., Hiraga, A., Nakai, J., Nitta, K., Shinohara, Y., Konno, A. and Hirai, H. Development of microglia-targeting adeno-associated viral vectors as tools to study microglial behavior in vivo. Commun Biol. 5: 1224, 2022.
  10. Shindo, Y., Nakamura, H.M., Nakai, J., Wakamori, M., Nakamura, T. A parasympathetic neurotransmitter induces myoepithelial cell differentiation during salivary gland development. Exp Cell Res. 416: 113137, 2022.
  11. Luo, Y.R., Kudo, T. , Tominami, K., Izumi, S., Tanaka, T., Hayas.hi, Y., Noguchi, T., Matsuzawa, A., Nakai, J. , Hong, G. and Wang, H. SP600125 enhances temperature-controlled repeated thermal stimulation-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12-P1F1 cells. Int J Mol Sci. 23: 15602, 2022.
  12. Narita, K., Kudo, T. , Hong, G., Tominami, K., Izumi, S., Hayashi, Y. and Nakai, J. Effect of beta 2-adrenergic receptor Gly16Arg polymorphism on taste preferences in healthy young Japanese adults. Nutrients. 14: 1430, 2022.
  13. Hoshino, C., Konno, A., Hosoi, N., Kaneko, R., Mukai, R., Nakai, J. , Hirai, H. GABAergic neuron-specific whole-brain transduction by AAV-PHP.B incorporated with a new GAD65 promoter. Mol Brain. 14: 33, 2021.
  14. Mizuta, K., Nakai, J. , Hayashi, Y., Sato, M. Multiple coordinated cellular dynamics mediate CA1 map plasticity. Hippocampus. 31: 235-243, 2021.
  15. Takamura, R., Mizuta, K., Sekine, Y., Islam, T., Saito, T., Sato, M., Ohkura, M., Nakai, J. , Ohshima, T., Saido, T.C., Hayashi, Y. Modality-Specific Impairment of Hippocampal CA1 Neurons of Alzheimer's Disease Model Mice. J Neurosci. 41: 5315-5329, 2021.
  16. Miyata, S., Kakizaki, T., Fujihara, K., Obinata, H., Hirano, T., Nakai, J. , Tanaka, M., Itohara, S., Watanabe, M., Tanaka, K.F., Abe, M., Sakimura, K., Yanagawa, Y. Global knockdown of glutamate decarboxylase 67 elicits emotional abnormality in mice. Mol Brain. 14: 5, 2021.
  17. Ota, K., Oisi, Y., Suzuki, T., Ikeda, M., Ito, Y., Ito, T., Uwamori, H., Kobayashi, K., Kobayashi, M., Odagawa, M., Matsubara, C., Kuroiwa, Y., Horikoshi, M., Matsushita, J., Hioki, H., Ohkura, M., Nakai, J. , Oizumi, M., Miyawaki, A., Aonishi, T., Ode, T., Murayama, M. Fast, cell-resolution, contiguous-wide two-photon imaging to reveal functional network architectures across multi-modal cortical areas. Neuron. 109: 1810-1824.e9, 2021.
  18. Do, V.Q., Seo, Y.S., Park, J.M., Yu, J., Duong, M.T.H., Nakai, J. , Kim, S.K., Ahn, H.C., Lee, M.Y. A mixture of chloromethylisothiazolinone and methylisothiazo-linone impairs rat vascular smooth muscle by depleting thiols and thereby elevating cytosolic Zn2+ and generating reactive oxygen species. Arch Toxicol. 95: 541-556, 2021.
  19. Sato, M., Mizuta, K., Islam, T., Kawano, M., Sekine, Y., Takekawa, T., Gomez-Dominguez, D., Schmidt, A., Wolf, F., Kim, K., Yamakawa, H., Ohkura, M., Lee, M.G., Fukai, T., Nakai, J. , Hayashi, Y. Distinct Mechanisms of Over-Representation of Landmarks and Rewards in the Hippocampus. Cell Rep. 32: 107864, 2020.
  20. Sato, M., Sano, S., Watanabe, H., Kudo, Y., Nakai, J. An aspherical microlens assembly for deep brain fluorescence microendoscopy. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 527: 447-452, 2020.
  21. Miura, I., Sato, M., Overton, E.T.N., Kunori, N., Nakai, J. , Kawamata, T., Nakai, N., Takumi, T. Encoding of social exploration by neural ensembles in the insular cortex. PLoS Biol. 18: e3000584, 2020.
  22. Sugimoto, H., Sato, M., Nakai, J. , Kawakami, K. Astrocytes in Atp1a2-deficient heterozygous mice exhibit hyperactivity after induction of cortical spreading depression. FEBS Open Bio. 10: 1031-1043, 2020.
  23. Korpela, J., Suzuki, H., Matsumoto, S., Mizutani, Y., Samejima, M., Maekawa, T., Nakai, J. , Yoda, K. Machine learning enables improved runtime and precision for bio-loggers on seabirds. Commun Biol. 3: 633, 2020.
  24. Akama, K., Ebata, K., Maeno, A., Taminato, T., Otosaka, S., Gengyo-Ando, K. , Nakai, J. , Yamasu, K., Kawamura, A. Role of somite patterning in the formation of Weberian apparatus and pleural rib in zebrafish. J Anat. 236: 622-629, 2020.
  25. Mizuno, K., Shiozawa, K., Katoh, T.A., Minegishi, K., Ide, T., Ikawa, Y., Nishimura, H., Takaoka, K., Itabashi, T., Iwane, A.H., Nakai, J. , Shiratori, H., Hamada, H. Role of Ca2+ transients at the node of the mouse embryo in breaking of left-right symmetry. Sci Adv. 6: eaba1195, 2020.
  26. Okawa, N., Shimai, K., Ohnishi, K., Ohkura, M., Nakai, J. , Horie, T., Kuhara, A., Kusakabe, T.G. Cellular identity and Ca2+ signaling activity of the non-reproductive GnRH system in the Ciona intestinalis type A (Ciona robusta) larva. Sci Rep. 10: 18590, 2020.
  27. Motegi, Y., Sato, M., Horiguchi, K., Ohkura, M., Gengyo-Ando, K. , Ikegaya, Y., Fusamae, Y., Hongo, Y., Suzuki, M., Ogawa, K., Takaki, M., Nakai, J. Confocal and multiphoton calcium imaging of the enteric nervous system in anesthetized mice. Neurosci Res. 151: 53-60, 2020.
  28. Kudo, T. , Tominami, K., Izumi, S., Hayashi, Y., Noguchi, T., Matsuzawa, A., Hong, G., Nakai, J. Characterization of PC12 cell subclones with different sensitivities to programmed thermal stimulation. Int J Mol Sci. 21: 8356, 2020.
  29. Ghandour, K., Ohkawa, N., Fung, C.C.A., Asai, H., Saitoh, Y., Takekawa, T., Okubo-Suzuki, R., Soya, S., Nishizono, H., Matsuo, M., Osanai, M., Sato, M., Ohkura, M., Nakai, J. , Hayashi, Y., Sakurai, T., Kitamura, T., Fukai, T., Inokuchi, K. Orchestrated ensemble activities constitute a hippocampal memory engram. Nat Commun. 10: 2637, 2019.
  30. Ohara-Imaizumi, M., Aoyagi, K., Yamauchi, H., Yoshida, M., Mori, M.X., Hida, Y., Tran, H.N., Ohkura, M., Abe, M., Akimoto, Y., Nakamichi, Y., Nishiwaki, C., Kawakami, H., Hara, K., Sakimura, K., Nagamatsu, S., Mori, Y., Nakai, J. , Kakei, M., Ohtsuka, T. ELKS/Voltage-Dependent Ca2+ Channel-β Subunit Module Regulates Polarized Ca2+ Influx in Pancreatic β Cells. Cell Rep. 26: 1213-1226.e7, 2019.
  31. Kobayashi, T., Islam, T., Sato, M., Ohkura, M., Nakai, J. , Hayashi, Y., Okamoto, H. Wide and Deep Imaging of Neuronal Activities by a Wearable NeuroImager Reveals Premotor Activity in the Whole Motor Cortex. Sci Rep. 9: 8366, 2019.
  32. Kanaki, N., Matsuda, A., Dejima, K., Murata, D., Nomura, K.H., Ohkura, T., Gengyo-Ando, K. , Yoshina, S., Mitani, S., Nomura, K. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-dolichyl-phosphate N-acetylglucosamine phospho-transferase is indispensable for oogenesis, oocyte-to-embryo transition, and larval development of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Glycobiology. 29: 163-178, 2019.
  33. Watanabe, K., Hong, G., Tominami, K., Izumi, S., Hayashi, Y., Kudo, T. Association between beta3-adrenergic receptor Trp64Arg polymorphism and fat preference in healthy young Japanese women. Tohoku J Exp Med. 248: 181-192, 2019.
  34. Kagawa-Nagamura, Y., Gengyo-Ando, K. , Ohkura, M., Nakai, J. Role of tyramine in calcium dynamics of GABAergic neurons and escape behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans. Zoological Lett. 4:19, 2018.
  35. Matsuyama, N., Shibata, S., Matoba, A., Kudo, T. , Danielsson, J., Kohjitani, A., Masaki, E., Emala, C.W., Mizuta, K. The dopamine D1 receptor is expressed and induces CREB phosphorylation and MUC5AC expression in human airway epithelium. Respir Res. 19: 53, 2018.
  36. Tanaka, T., Hong, G., Tominami, K., Kudo, T. Oral fat sensitivity is associated with social support for stress coping in young adult men. The Tohoku J Exp Med. 244(4): 249-261, 2018.
  37. Sato, M., Motegi, Y., Yagi, S., Gengyo-Ando, K. , Ohkura, M., Nakai, J. Fast varifocal two-photon microendoscope for imaging neuronal activity in the deep brain. Biomed Opt Express. 8: 4049-4060, 2017.
  38. Gengyo-Ando, K. , Kagawa-Nagamura, Y., Ohkura, M., Fei, X., Chen, M., Hashimoto, K., Nakai, J. A new platform for long-term tracking and recording of neural activity and simultaneous optogenetic control in freely behaving Caenorhabditis elegans. J Neurosci Methods. 286: 56-68, 2017.
  39. Tanimoto Y, Yamazoe-Umemoto A, Fujita K, Kawazoe Y, Miyanishi Y, Yamazaki SJ, Fei X, Busch KE, Gengyo-Ando K, Nakai J, Iino Y, Iwasaki Y, Hashimoto K, Kimura KD. Calcium dynamics regulating the timing of decision-making in C. elegans. Elife. 2017 May 23;6:e21629.
  40. Gengyo-Ando, K. , Kage-Nakadai, E., Yoshina, S., Otori, M., Kagawa-Nagamura, Y., Nakai, J. , Mitani, S. Distinct roles of the two VPS33 proteins in the endolysosomal system in Caenorhabditis elegans. Traffic. 2016 Nov;17(11):1197-1213.
  41. Kawashita, M., Hasegawa, M., Kudo, T. , Kanetaka, H., Miyazaki, T., Hashimoto, M. Effect of fibronectin adsorption on osteoblastic cellular responses to hydroxyapatite and alumina. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 69: 1268-1272, 2016.
  42. Izumi, S. , Hong, G., Iwasaki, K., Izumi, M., Matsuyama, Y., Chiba, M., Toda, T., Kudo, T. Gustatory Salivation Is Associated with Body Mass Index, Daytime Sleepiness, and Snoring in Healthy Young Adults. Tohoku J Exp Med. 240: 153-165, 2016.
  43. Hasegawa, M., Kudo, T. , Kanetaka, H., Miyazaki, T., Hashimoto, M., Kawashita, M. Fibronectin adsorption on osteoconductive hydroxyapatite and non-osteoconductive α-alumina. Biomed Mater. 11: 045006, 2016.
  44. Fujita, H., Kudo, T. , Kanetaka, H., Miyazaki, T., Hashimoto, M., Kawashita, M. Adsorption of Laminin on Hydroxyapatite and Alumina and the MC3T3-E1 Cell Response. ACS Biomater Sci Eng. 2: 1162-1168, 2016.
  45. Tominami, K. , Kanetaka, H., Kudo, T. , Sasaki, S., Kaneko, T. Apoptotic effects on cultured cells of atmospheric-pressure plasma produced using various gases. Jpn J Appl Phys. 55: 01AF03, 2016.
  46. Asano, M., Hong, G., Matsuyama, Y., Wang, W., Izumi, S., Izumi, M., Toda, T., Kudo, T. Association of oral fat sensitivity with body mass index, taste preference, and eating habits in healthy Japanese young adults. Tohoku J Exp Med. 238: 93-103, 2016.
  47. Shiba, Y., Gomibuchi, T., Seto, T., Wada, Y., Ichimura, H., Tanaka, Y., Ogasawara, T., Okada, K., Shiba, N., Sakamoto, K., Ido, D., Shiina, T., Ohkura, M., Nakai, J. , Uno, N., Kazuki, Y., Oshimura, M., Minami, I., Ikeda, U. Allogeneic transplantation of iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes regenerates primate hearts. Nature. 538: 388-391, 2016.
  48. Tanji, T., Nishikori, K., Haga, S., Kanno, Y., Kobayashi, Y., Takaya, M., Gengyo-Ando, K. , Mitani, S., Shiraishi, H., Ohashi-Kobayashi, A. Characterization of HAF-4- and HAF-9-localizing organelles as distinct organelles in Caenorhabditis elegans intestinal cells. BMC Cell Biol. 2016 Jan 27;17:4.
  49. Sakaguchi, A., Sato, M., Sato, K., Gengyo-Ando, K. , Yorimitsu, T., Nakai, J. , Hara, T., Sato, K., Sato, K. REI-1 Is a Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Regulating RAB-11 Localization and Function in C. elegans Embryos. Dev Cell. 2015 Oct 26;35(2):211-21.
  50. Manita, S., Suzuki, T., Homma, C., Matsumoto, T., Odagawa, M., Yamada, K., Ota, K., Matsubara, C., Inutsuka, A., Sato, M., Ohkura, M., Yamanaka, A., Yanagawa, Y., Nakai, J. , Hayashi, Y., Larkum, M.E., Murayama, M. A Top-Down Cortical Circuit for Accurate Sensory Perception. Neuron. 86: 1304-1316, 2015.
  51. Sato, M., Kawano, M., Ohkura, M., Gengyo-Ando, K. , Nakai, J., Hayashi, Y. Generation and Imaging of Transgenic Mice that Express G-CaMP7 under a Tetracycline Response Element. PLoS One. 2015 May 6;10(5):e0125354.
  52. Nunome, S., Kanetaka, H., Kudo, T., Endoh, K., Hosoda, H., Igarashi, K. Invitro evaluation of biocompatibility of Ti-Mo-Sn-Zr superelastic alloy. J Biomater Appl. 30: 119-130, 2015.
  53. Inoue, M., Takeuchi, A., Horigane, S., Ohkura, M., Gengyo-Ando, K. , Fujii, H., Kamijo, S., Takemoto-Kimura, S., Kano, M., Nakai, J. , Kitamura, K., Bito, H. Rational design of a novel high-affinity, ultrafast, red calcium indicator R-CaMP2. Nat Methods. 12: 64-70, 2015.
  54. Kudo, T., Kanetaka, H., Mochizuki, K., Tominami, K., Nunome, S., Abe, G., Kosukegawa, H., Abe, T., Mori, H., Mori, K., Takagi, T., Izumi, S. Induction of neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells treated with temperature-controlled repeated thermal stimulation. PLOS ONE. 10: e0124024, 2015.
  55. Nakai, J. , Ohkura, M., Imoto, K.: A high signal-to-noise Ca2+probe composed of a single green fluorescent protein. Nat Biotechnol. 19: 137-141, 2001.

Laboratory Contacts

Prof. Junichi Nakai

@
+81-22-717-8290

Research