Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B
Online ISSN : 1349-2896
Print ISSN : 0386-2208
ISSN-L : 0386-2208
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Volume 84, Issue 10
Displaying 1-4 of 4 articles from this issue
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Reviews
  • Aberrant expression of sialidase and cancer progression
    Taeko MIYAGI
    2008 Volume 84 Issue 10 Pages 407-418
    Published: December 30, 2008
    Released on J-STAGE: December 11, 2008
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2183/pjab.84.407
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
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    Aberrant sialylation is closely associated with the malignant phenotype of cancer cells including metastatic potential and invasiveness. However, its biological significance and molecular mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. To determine causes and consequences, we have focused attention on mammalian sialidases, which cleave sialic acids from gangliosides and glycoproteins. The four types of human sialidases identified to date behave in different manners during carcinogenesis. One, found in the lysosomes, shows down-regulation in cancers, promoting anchorage-independent growth and contributing to metastatic ability, while another, found in the plasma membranes, exhibits marked up-regulation, resulting in suppression of apoptosis. The present review summarizes mostly our results on aberrant expression of sialidases and their possible roles in cancer progression.

    (Communicated by Takao SEKIYA, M.J.A.)
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  • Contributions to osteoclast biology from Japan
    Tatsuo SUDA, Naoyuki TAKAHASHI
    2008 Volume 84 Issue 10 Pages 419-438
    Published: December 30, 2008
    Released on J-STAGE: December 11, 2008
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2183/pjab.84.419
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
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    Bone is a dynamic tissue, in which bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts continue throughout life. In 1998, we molecularly cloned osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF), a long-thought factor responsible for osteoclast formation. This review article describes how Japanese scientists contributed to osteoclast biology before and after the discovery of ODF. This review article is based on the Louis V. Avioli Memorial Lecture of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) held in Honolulu in September, 2007.

    (Contributed by Tatsuo SUDA, M.J.A.)
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  • Studies on the paramyxovirus accessory genes by reverse genetics in the Sendai virus–mouse system
    Takemasa SAKAGUCHI, Atsushi KATO, Katsuhiro KIYOTANI, Tetsuya YOSHIDA, ...
    2008 Volume 84 Issue 10 Pages 439-451
    Published: December 30, 2008
    Released on J-STAGE: December 11, 2008
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2183/pjab.84.439
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
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    Nucleotide sequencing of the entire genomes was completed in the 1980s for most members of the Paramyxoviridae. It then became a new common task with challenge for researchers in the field to establish a system to recover the virus entirely from cDNA, thereby allowing reverse genetics (free manipulation of the viral genome). Using Sendai virus, we established a system of incomparable virus recovery efficiency early on. This technology was then fully exploited in answering a series of long-held questions. In particular, two accessory genes whose functions had remained enigmatic were demonstrated to encode special functions critical in viral in vivo pathogenesis producing fatal pneumonia in mice, although dispensable in virus replication at the in vitro cellular level. Their in vivo functions were found to counteract the two respective facets of the antiviral state induced by interferons and an interferon regulatory factor 3-dependent but yet unknown effector. These achievements appear to have facilitated a scientific trend where the accessory genes are a focus of active investigation in studies on other paramyxoviruses and opened up a new common ground shared between virology and immunology.

    (Communicated by Kumao TOYOSHIMA, M.J.A.)
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