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
- October 2025
- Our paper has been accepted for publication in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences!
- July 2025
- Ms. Kaneko Presented a Poster at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society
At the 48th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society held at Toki Messe in Niigata City, third-year medical student Ms. Asuka Kaneko presented a poster. This was her first academic conference presentation, but she gave a calm and confident explanation of her research and actively engaged in discussions with other participants.
- April 2025
- The gallery has been updated!
- February 2025
- Life Science Course Winter Retreat 2025
The Winter Retreat 2025 of the Faculty of Medicine’s Life Science Course was held with the participation of 12 faculty members and 13 students. From our laboratory, two faculty members and four students took part in the event, engaging in active discussions and fruitful exchanges.
Mr. Yokota from our lab presented his research titled “Study on the Binding Partners of AMPK Family Kinase SIK3 in Neuronal Cells.” Through discussions with other participants, he gained new perspectives and valuable feedback on his work.
The retreat also provided a great opportunity to deepen interactions with professors and students from other departments. We hope that this meaningful experience will serve as valuable inspiration for the students’ future research endeavors.
- June 2024
- Our paper has been accepted for publication in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy!
- April 2024
- Assistant Professor Kim Yeon-Jeong’s paper has been featured on the University of Yamanashi’s official press release page!
- November 2023
- Life Science Course Research Presentation The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Yamanashi offers an educational program called the Life Science Course, which provides opportunities for medical students aspiring to become physician-scientists to join research laboratories and conduct experiments and research. Third-year students are required to give a research presentation, and this year, three students from the Otsuka Laboratory presented their work. Before the event, they practiced their presentations within the lab and received valuable feedback from faculty members. On the day of the presentation, they confidently shared their research and handled various questions from the audience, which helped them gain a deeper understanding of their own studies. Congratulations to Mr. Ishikura, Mr. Hagiwara and Mr. Fujii for their excellent efforts!
- October 2023
- The photo gallery of the “2nd Joint GLIA Seminar” has been uploaded!
- June 2023
- Our new paper has been just released in Frontiers in Neurology.
- A collaborative study with RIKEN and other institutions has been featured in Science Translational Medicine.
This research was also introduced on the front page of the Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun.
Paper: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abq7721 - April 2023
- Our new paper has been just released in International Journal of Molecular Sciences!
- Critical Role of the Presynaptic Protein CAST in Maintaining the Photoreceptor Ribbon Synapse Triad
- March 2023
- Our new 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.
In this study, we demonstrated that 4-Phenylbutyric Acid (4-PBA) improves motor function in a mouse model of spastic paraplegia caused by UBAP1 gene mutation. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of 4-PBA for hereditary spastic paraplegias, including SPG80.
