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Toshiro Aigaki

Bio: Toshiro Aigaki is an academic researcher from Tokyo Metropolitan University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Drosophila melanogaster & Gene. The author has an hindex of 39, co-authored 147 publications receiving 6456 citations. Previous affiliations of Toshiro Aigaki include University of Zurich & University of Tokyo.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
29 Jul 1988-Cell
TL;DR: Amino acid sequencing of the purified peptide and oligonucleotide-directed cDNA cloning established that the peptide consists of 36 amino acids, and appears to be synthesized as a precursor with a hydrophobic signal sequence of 19 residues at its N-terminal end.

625 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that Eiger can initiate cell death through an IAP‐sensitive cell death pathway via JNK signaling, the first invertebrate tumor necrosis factor superfamily ligand that can induce cell death.
Abstract: Drosophila provides a powerful genetic model for studying the in vivo regulation of cell death. In our large-scale gain-of-function screen, we identified Eiger, the first invertebrate tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily ligand that can induce cell death. Eiger is a type II transmembrane protein with a C-terminal TNF homology domain. It is predominantly expressed in the nervous system. Genetic evidence shows that Eiger induces cell death by activating the Drosophila JNK pathway. Although this cell death process is blocked by Drosophila inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein 1 (DIAP1), it does not require caspase activity. We also show genetically that Eiger is a physiological ligand for the Drosophila JNK pathway. Our findings demonstrate that Eiger can initiate cell death through an IAP-sensitive cell death pathway via JNK signaling.

443 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The finding of the genes involved in host-plant determination may lead to further understanding of mechanisms underlying taste perception, evolution of plant–herbivore interactions, and speciation.
Abstract: Despite its morphological similarity to the other species in the Drosophila melanogaster species complex, D. sechellia has evolved distinct physiological and behavioral adaptations to its host plant Morinda citrifolia, commonly known as Tahitian Noni. The odor of the ripe fruit of M. citrifolia originates from hexanoic and octanoic acid. D. sechellia is attracted to these two fatty acids, whereas the other species in the complex are repelled. Here, using interspecies hybrids between D. melanogaster deficiency mutants and D. sechellia, we showed that the Odorant-binding protein 57e (Obp57e) gene is involved in the behavioral difference between the species. D. melanogaster knock-out flies for Obp57e and Obp57d showed altered behavioral responses to hexanoic acid and octanoic acid. Furthermore, the introduction of Obp57d and Obp57e from D. simulans and D. sechellia shifted the oviposition site preference of D. melanogaster Obp57d/eKO flies to that of the original species, confirming the contribution of these genes to D. sechellia's specialization to M. citrifolia. Our finding of the genes involved in host-plant determination may lead to further understanding of mechanisms underlying taste perception, evolution of plant–herbivore interactions, and speciation.

350 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is reported that, in larvae, the imd-mediated antibacterial defense is activated by peptidoglycan-recognition protein (PGRP)-LE, a PGRP-family member in Drosophila, which acts as a pattern- Recognition receptor to the diaminopimelic acid-type peptIDoglycan and activates both the proteolytic cascade and intracellular signaling in Dosophila immunity.
Abstract: In Drosophila, microbial infection activates an antimicrobial defense system involving the activation of proteolytic cascades in the hemolymph and intracellular signaling pathways, the immune deficiency (imd) and Toll pathways, in immune-responsive tissues. The mechanisms for microbial recognition are largely unknown. We report that, in larvae, the imd-mediated antibacterial defense is activated by peptidoglycan-recognition protein (PGRP)-LE, a PGRP-family member in Drosophila. Consistent with this, PGRP-LE binds to the diaminopimelic acid-type peptidoglycan, a cell-wall component of the bacteria capable of activating the imd pathway, but not to the lysine-type peptidoglycan. Moreover, PGRP-LE activates the prophenoloxidase cascade, a proteolytic cascade in the hemolymph. Therefore, PGRP-LE acts as a pattern-recognition receptor to the diaminopimelic acid-type peptidoglycan and activates both the proteolytic cascade and intracellular signaling in Drosophila immunity.

328 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Sep 2002-Genesis
TL;DR: This book aims to provide a chronology of key events and researchers' activities in the development of homosexuality, bisexuality, and related disorders over a period of 50 years.
Abstract: Shigeo Hayashi,* Kei Ito, Yukiko Sado, Misako Taniguchi, Ai Akimoto, Hiroko Takeuchi, Toshiro Aigaki, Fumio Matsuzaki, Hideki Nakagoshi, Teiichi Tanimura, Ryu Ueda, Tadashi Uemura, Motojiro Yoshihara, and Satoshi Goto National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka-ken, Japan Department of Genetics, Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Mishima, Shizuoka-ken, Japan Riken Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan National Institute for Basic Biology Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan Department of Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan Okayama University Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama, Japan Department of Biology, Graduate School of Sciences, Kyushu University, Ropponmatsu, Fukuoka, Japan Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan Center for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

314 citations


Cited by
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01 Jun 2012
TL;DR: SPAdes as mentioned in this paper is a new assembler for both single-cell and standard (multicell) assembly, and demonstrate that it improves on the recently released E+V-SC assembler and on popular assemblers Velvet and SoapDeNovo (for multicell data).
Abstract: The lion's share of bacteria in various environments cannot be cloned in the laboratory and thus cannot be sequenced using existing technologies. A major goal of single-cell genomics is to complement gene-centric metagenomic data with whole-genome assemblies of uncultivated organisms. Assembly of single-cell data is challenging because of highly non-uniform read coverage as well as elevated levels of sequencing errors and chimeric reads. We describe SPAdes, a new assembler for both single-cell and standard (multicell) assembly, and demonstrate that it improves on the recently released E+V-SC assembler (specialized for single-cell data) and on popular assemblers Velvet and SoapDeNovo (for multicell data). SPAdes generates single-cell assemblies, providing information about genomes of uncultivatable bacteria that vastly exceeds what may be obtained via traditional metagenomics studies. SPAdes is available online ( http://bioinf.spbau.ru/spades ). It is distributed as open source software.

10,124 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The rapidly advancing field of long ncRNAs is reviewed, describing their conservation, their organization in the genome and their roles in gene regulation, and the medical implications.
Abstract: In mammals and other eukaryotes most of the genome is transcribed in a developmentally regulated manner to produce large numbers of long non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Here we review the rapidly advancing field of long ncRNAs, describing their conservation, their organization in the genome and their roles in gene regulation. We also consider the medical implications, and the emerging recognition that any transcript, regardless of coding potential, can have an intrinsic function as an RNA.

4,911 citations

01 Aug 2000
TL;DR: Assessment of medical technology in the context of commercialization with Bioentrepreneur course, which addresses many issues unique to biomedical products.
Abstract: BIOE 402. Medical Technology Assessment. 2 or 3 hours. Bioentrepreneur course. Assessment of medical technology in the context of commercialization. Objectives, competition, market share, funding, pricing, manufacturing, growth, and intellectual property; many issues unique to biomedical products. Course Information: 2 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above and consent of the instructor.

4,833 citations

MonographDOI
12 Nov 1998
TL;DR: The aim of this monograph is to clarify the role of pheromones and chemicals in the lives of Insects and to propose a strategy to address their role in the food web.
Abstract: The Insects has been the standard textbook in the field since the first edition published over forty years ago. Building on the strengths of Chapman's original text, this long-awaited 5th edition has been revised and expanded by a team of eminent insect physiologists, bringing it fully up-to-date for the molecular era. The chapters retain the successful structure of the earlier editions, focusing on particular functional systems rather than taxonomic groups and making it easy for students to delve into topics without extensive knowledge of taxonomy. The focus is on form and function, bringing together basic anatomy and physiology and examining how these relate to behaviour. This, combined with nearly 600 clear illustrations, provides a comprehensive understanding of how insects work. Now also featuring a richly illustrated prologue by George McGavin, this is an essential text for students, researchers and applied entomologists alike.

2,922 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying Drosophila defense reactions together with strategies evolved by pathogens to evade them are reviewed.
Abstract: To combat infection, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster relies on multiple innate defense reactions, many of which are shared with higher organisms. These reactions include the use of physical barriers together with local and systemic immune responses. First, epithelia, such as those beneath the cuticle, in the alimentary tract, and in tracheae, act both as a physical barrier and local defense against pathogens by producing antimicrobial peptides and reactive oxygen species. Second, specialized hemocytes participate in phagocytosis and encapsulation of foreign intruders in the hemolymph. Finally, the fat body, a functional equivalent of the mammalian liver, produces humoral response molecules including antimicrobial peptides. Here we review our current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying Drosophila defense reactions together with strategies evolved by pathogens to evade them.

2,884 citations