Masatoshi Takeichi

Masatoshi Takeichi (Japanese竹市 雅 俊, Takeichi Masatoshi, born November 27, 1943) is a Japanese cell and developmental biologist. He is considered one of the pioneers of research into the cell adhesion, in particular the protein family of cadherins.

Thomson Reuters is one Takeichi the favorites for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine ( Thomson Reuters Citation Laureates ).

Life

Takeichi acquired at Nagoya University in 1966 and a bachelor's degree in 1968 a master's degree in biology. In 1973 he graduated from the Kyoto University a Ph.D. in biophysics. As early as 1970 he held a position as a research assistant at the University of Kyoto in 1978, where he received a first chair, 1986, a full professor of biophysics. Here he was from 1993 to 1998 director of the Center for Molecular Biology and Developmental Biology. From 1992 to 1997 Takeichi was a visiting professor at the National Institute for Basic Biology in Okazaki. From 1999 to 2002 he was professor of biophysics at the Graduate School of Kyoto University, since 2000 he is director of the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe.

Work

Takeichi could contribute significantly to the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of cell adhesion, in particular the cell -cell adhesion. Here he was able to prove that there is calcium-dependent and non- calcium-dependent processes, the former of which play a significant role in how sort cells in higher organisms, and to form in the tendency of certain tumors, metastases. He discovered that cells of different tissues express different transmembrane proteins cadherins, as representatives of the calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules. Epithelium expressing E -cadherin, N -cadherin, the nerve cells and non-embryonic cells, the P -cadherin. Takeichi showed that in particular E- cadherin and N- cadherin can bind homophil as so-called classic cadherins, ie E- with E -cadherin and N- with N- cadherin. Takeichi showed that cadherins play an important role in embryonic development and in the nervous system in the development, maintenance and function of synapses. By the proof of cadherins in Drosophila also he was able to show that the protein family is evolutionarily highly conserved. The protein family of cadherins than 80 different cadherins are alone in humans are famous.

Further work Takeichis deal with the α -catenin and its importance for the mediation of cell adhesion by cadherins. He was able to show that in many cancer cells, the cadherin -catenin system is disturbed. Recent work dealing with the biological function of other, non-classical members of the cadherin family ( such as the protocadherins ) and the interaction of cadherins with intracellular structures and processes such as cytoskeleton and cell motility.

Awards (selection)

Writings (selection )

  • M. Takeichi: Functional correlation in between cell adhesive properties and some cell surface proteins. J Cell Biol 1977, 75, 464-474.
  • N. Yoshida, M. Takeichi: Teratocarcinoma cell adhesion: Identification of a cell surface protein Involved in calcium -dependent cell aggregation. Cell 1982, 28, 217-224.
  • K. Hatta, M. Takeichi: Expression of N- cadherin adhesion molecules associated with early morphogenetic events in chicken embryos. Nature 1986, 320, 447-449.
  • Shirayoshi Y., K. Hatta, M. Hosoda, S. Tsunasawa, F. Sakiyama, M. Takeichi: Cadherin cell adhesion molecules with distinct binding specificities share a common structure. EMBO J. 1986, 5, 2485-2488.
  • A. Nagafuchi, Y. Shirayoshi, K. Okazaki, K. Yasuda, M. Takeichi: Transformation of cell adhesion properties by exogenously Introduced E -cadherin cDNA. Nature 1987, 329, 341-343.
  • A. Nose, A. Nagafuchi, M. and Takeichi: Expressed recombinant cadherins mediate cell sorting in model systems. Cell 1988 54, 993-1001.
  • S. Hirano, N. Kimoto, Y. Shimoyama, S. Hirohashi, M. Takeichi: Identification of a neural α -catenin as a key regulator of cadherin function and multicellular organization. Cell 1992, 70, 293-301.
  • H. Togashi, K. Abe, A. Mizoguchi, O. Chisaka, M. Takeichi: Cadherin Regulates dendritic spine morphogenesis. Neuron 2002, 35, 77-89.
  • W. Meng et al.: Anchorage of microtubule minus ends to adherens junctions Regulates epithelial cell -cell contacts. Cell 135 948-59 (2008)
  • T. Ishiuchi et al. Mammalian Fat and roof Sous cadherins regulate apical membrane organization in the embryonic cerebral cortex. J Cell Biol 185 959-67 (2009)
  • K. Taguchi et al. Mechanosensitive EPLIN -dependent remodeling of adherens junctions Regulates epithelial reshaping. J Cell Biol 194643-56 (2011)
  • T. Ishiuchi, M. Takeichi: Willin and Par3 cooperatively regulate epithelial apical constriction through aPKC -mediated ROCK phosphorylation. Nat Cell Biol 13860-6 (2011)
  • T. Nishimura et al.: Planar cell polarity left axes of spatial dynamics in neural- tube closure. Cell 149.1084-97 (2012)
  • N. Tanaka et al. Nezha/CAMSAP3 and CAMSAP2 cooperate in epithelial- specific organization of microtubules noncentrosomal. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 49.20029-34 (2012 )
Okazaki, Aichi Gene expression Keith R. Porter Lecture Asahi Prize Keio Medical Science Prize American Academy of Arts and Sciences Japan Prize Erkki Ruoslahti National Academy of Sciences Digital Object Identifier
554594
de