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| Research
Directors |
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Prof. Katsuhiko
Mikoshiba
The Institute of Medical Science,
The University of Tokyo/Group Director, RIKEN Brain
Science Institute |
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Prof. Anita
Aperia
Karolinska Institute |
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| Counterpart Organization: Karolinska Institute (Sweden) |
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| Calucium is a component of bone as a skeleton,
and ionized calcium --- calcium ion (Ca2+) ---
conducts a variety of physiological work. When the cell is
stimulated, intracellular Ca2+ concentration slowly
oscillates; this phenomenon is called, "Ca2+
oscillation." |
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| The aim of this project has been the clarification
of the Ca2+ oscillation mechanism and its functions
with focus on IP3 receptors which are known as
intracellular Ca2+ release channels located on
the endoplasmic reticulum. This project succeeded in determining
the protein conformation of IP3 receptors and discovering
the new protein molecules (IRBIT, CARP, and Erp44) that regulate
the IP3 receptors' function, and elucidated the
fact that IP3 receptors are crucially related not
only to the embryonic development of a frog, which determines
the would-be stomach part and dorsal part, but also to the
exocrine system of mice. |
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In this collaborative research with Karolinska
Institute, Japanese side put emphasis on the normality based
on basic science, while Sweden side mainly concentrated
on the abnormality (diseases) from the viewpoint of clinical
science. The achievements must contribute to the understanding
of basic mechanism --- transcription of genes, immunological
system, endocrine and exocrine system, and neural transmission
(signal transduction) --- and the development of therapeutic
drugs to cure the pathogenetic situation of Ca2+
signaling. |
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