Research outline
Welcome to Ohtsuka lab at Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine/Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi. We are very much interested in molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the structure and function of presynaptic active zones (AZs). AZ is a slightly-electron dense region beneath the presynaptic plasma membrane, where synaptic vesicles specifically dock and fuse with AZ. Thus, AZ is thought to regulate release of neurotransmitters in a temporally and spatially coordinated manner. In order to elucidate the physiological role of AZ, we have employed interdisciplinary technologies including solid biochemistry, molecular biology, electron microscopy, and genetics.
Topics
- March 2023
- New Our new A paper has been just released in Molecular Brain !
- Experience-dependent changes in affective valence of taste in male mice
- May 2020
- Our new CAST/ELKS paper has been just released in J. Physiology !
- Presynaptic development is controlled by the core active zone proteins CAST/ELKS
- March 2020
- Our new CAST/ELKS paper has been just released in Scientific reports !
- Impaired experience-dependent maternal care in presynaptic active zone protein CAST-deficient dams
- February 2020
- A paper on IBI has been published
- International Brain Initiative: An Innovative Framework for Coordinated Global Brain Research Efforts.
- IBI HP
- Our new CAST/ELKS paper has been just released in Molecular Brain !
- Double deletion of the active zone proteins CAST/ELKS in the mouse forebrain causes high mortality of newborn pups.
- September 2019
- Our new CAST/ELKS paper has been just released in Mol Metab !
- Role of the active zone protein, ELKS, in insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. in Mol Metab.
- January 2019
- Our new CAST/ELKS paper has been just released in Cell Reports !
- ELKS/Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel-β Subunit Module Regulates Polarized Ca2+ Influx in Pancreatic β-Cells. in Cell Reports
- September 2018
- Our new CAST/ELKS paper has been just released in J. Cell Biol. !
- Cytomatrix proteins CAST and ELKS regulate retinal photoreceptor development and maintenance. in J. Cell Biol.
- July 2018
- CAST/ELKS proteins control voltage-gated Ca2+ channel density and synaptic release probability at a mammalian central synapse. in Cell Reports
- February 2018
- CAST: its molecular structure and phosphorylation-dependent regulation of presynaptic plasticity. in Neurosci. Res.
- January 2018
- Synaptic localisation of SRF coactivators, MKL1 and MKL2, and their role in dendritic spine morphology. in Scientific Reports.
- Mutations in bassoon in individuals with familial and sporadic progressive supranuclear palsy-like syndrome. in Scientific Reports.
- March 2017
- A Wnt5 Activity Asymmetry and Intercellular Signaling via PCP Proteins Polarize Node Cells for Left-Right Symmetry Breaking. in Developmental Cell.
- March 2017
- The Auxiliary Calcium Channel Subunit α2δ4 Is Required for Axonal Elaboration, Synaptic Transmission, and Wiring of Rod Photoreceptors. in Neuron.
- September 2016
- Our new SAD/CAST paper was now published in Cell Reports!
SAD-B Phosphorylation of CAST Controls Active Zone Vesicle Recycling for Synaptic Depression. - July 2016
- The active zone protein CAST regulates synaptic vesicle recycling and quantal size in the mouse hippocampus. in European Journal of Neuroscience.
- March 2016
- Dopamine synapse is a neuroligin-2–mediated contact between dopaminergic presynaptic and GABAergic postsynaptic structures. in PNAS.
- October 2015
- SAD-B kinase regulates presynaptic vesicular dynamics at hippocampal Schaffer collateral synapses and affects contextual fear memory. in Journal of Neurochemistry.