Tohoku Neuroscience Global COE Basic & Translational Research Center for Global Brain Science
The Global COE program closed on 31 March, 2012. This site will not be updated.
Tohoku Neuroscience global COE program "Basic & Translational Research Center for Global Brain Science" started in fiscal year 2007 and ended in March, 2012. We would appreciate all of people, universities and institutes for their generous supports and cooperation to our program, especially for the sincere help during the hardest period after the disaster on March 11th, 2011. Tohoku Brain Science Center, established in 2010, will receive our fruits and continue to form a global center for neuroscience education and research.
TOPICS
- 2012.03.07
- A mechanism of nerve cell production from stem cells of the embryonic brain
-Cyclin D2 is inherited by one of the two daughter cells and maintains it undifferentiated-
It is very important that many neuronal cells are produced methodologically by cell proliferation and differentiation in the development of mammalian brains. A research group led by Professor Noriko Osumi at Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and Research Fellow Yuji Tsunekawa (currently at the Scripps Research Institute) has discovered that Cyclin D2, a cell cycle regulation factor, localizes at the tip of the basal process outside the brain premordium, in the mammalian neural progenitor cells. This study has also revealed that Cyclin D2 is inherited by one of the two daughter cells with the basal process during cell divisions of neural progenitors into two daughter cells, and it plays a role to maintain the cell fates undifferentiated. In addition, since this kind of conservation of undifferentiated cells by Cyclin D2 is observed only in mammals, this mechanism can be considered to be acquired during evolution. Further studies will be expected to elucidate the mechanism for production of enormous nerve cells and growth of the human brain.
- 2012.03.07
- Can light be perceived on the skin!? - Supersense of ChR2 transgenic rats -
A research group led by Professor Hiromu Yawo at Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University has discovered that transgenic rats which channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), one of photoreceptor proteins of a green unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, was integrated in their genomes express ChR2 in the large dorsal root ganglion cells involved in sense of touch-pressure and deep sense. In addition, ChR2 was also distributed in the sensory nerve endings in the skin. As a result, these rats have obtained "supersense" by which blue LED flashes on the plantar skin are perceived as touch-pressure but not as pain.PLoS ONE (Journal Site, Free Access)
- 2012.03.02
- The development of Parkinson's disease dementia is predictable by olfaction tests -Severe hyposmia is a prodromal symptom of dementia associated with Parkinson's disease-
A research group led by Associate Professor Atsushi Takeda and Dr. Toru Baba at Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine has revealed that olfaction tests can predict the development of dementia associated Parkinson's disease. It has been known that Parkinson's disease tends to lead dementia. Olfaction tests will enable us to identify and treat dementia earlier. This research result has been published in Brain. The paper's title is "Severe olfactory dysfunction is a prodromal symptom of dementia associated with Parkinson's disease: a 3-year longitudinal study".
This research has been supported by Global COE Program (Basic & Translational Research Center for Global Brain Science) and Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research.Article Abstract (Journal Site)
- 2012.02.28
- A new cortical area for response control was discovered: primate medial prefrontal cortex dynamically participates in volitional control of action when the task requires selection of response tactics
The research group led by Professor Hajime Mushiake and Assistant Professor Yoshiya Matsuzaka has discovered a new region involved in regulation of actions in the medial prefrontal cortex of primate brain. This region, called the posterior medial prefrontal cortex (pmPFC), lies in the posterior portion of the medial prefrontal cortex, whose function has not been clarified by previous neuron-recording as well as neuroimaging studies.
- 2012.01.30
- Discovery of the retrograde melanosome transport complex in melanocytes
- Expected molecular target for preventing gray hairs?-
Tohoku University has elucidated a mechanism for "microtubule-dependent retrograde melanosome transport", that is, reversed transport of melanin pigments along the microtubules. This research result has been acquired by Assistant Professor Norihiko Ohbayashi and Professor Mitsunori Fukuda at Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University.
- 2011.12.15
- Discovery of a new function of Varp molecules -Varp promotes dendrite formation-
Tohoku University has revealed that Varp, known as a molecule essential for transport of melanogenic enzymes, promotes dendrite formation of melanocytes. This research result has been acquired by Assistant Professor Norihiko Ohbayashi and Professor Mitsunori Fukuda at Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University.
- 2011.03.30
- Support Fund for Tohoku University Neuroscience Group
We gratefully accept your donation for Tohoku University Neuroscience Group.
- 2011.02.10
- Touch is a Switch, The Source of Eros in the Brain - When male Drosophila touches the female, the male-specific interneurons are excited to trigger stereotypic courtship behavior -
A research group led by Professor Daisuke Yamamoto at Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences has discovered that particular brain neurons in male Drosophila are excited by touching the female to display courtship behavior. It has been known that with the effect of a gene called fruitless, males vibrate a single wing during courtship by sensing pheromones of the female. The present study demonstrated that a male initiates courtship even placed alone without any courtship target if the brain cells where fruitless is active are artificially activated. They further revealed that the neurons named P1 make decision to court and another group of neurons, P2b, transmit the decision to a motor system, which in turn produces the action. By using protein called Yellow Chameleon to visualize fluorescence changes of brain neuronal excitation, the group has also shown that P1 neurons excite immediately when the male touches the female with his foreleg on which pheromone receptors exist. The research result has been published in the February 10, 2011 issue of Neuron. The paper's title is "Female Contact Activates Male-specific Interneurons that Trigger Stereotypic Courtship Behavior in Drosophila."Article Abstract (Journal Site)
- 2011.01.06
- Tohoku International Symposium on Multidisciplinary Neuroscience (1/21-23 Sendai)
Venue: Katahira Campus, Tohoku University
DAY-1 (1/21): Poster Session
DAY-2 (1/22): Advancement of research on the premotor and prefrontal cortex
DAY-3 (1/23): From Cell/Developmental Biology to Neuroscience
Detail: Tohoku University Brain Science Center Web
Main Organizer:
Tohoku University Brain Science Center
Organizers:
School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University
School of Medicine, Tohoku University
Tohoku Neuroscience Global COE
University College London
British Embassy Japan
Comprehensive Brain Science Network
- 2011.01.06
- "Neuroscience and Art in Dialogue"
Date: 2011-01-21
Venue: Sendai Shimin Kaikan
Speakers:
Dr. Semir Zaki (University College London)
Mr. Tatsuo Miyajima (Artist, Tohoku University of Art & Design vice president)
Dr. Noriko Osumi (Tohoku University)
Detail URL (in Japanese)
- 2010.12.15
- New Approach to Skin Lightening - Prevention of transport and accumulation of melanin to Keratinocytes by blocking melanosome transport -
A research group led by Professor Mitsunori Fukuda at Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences has conducted a joint research with KOSE on a transport mechanism of melanin pigments. In this study, the research group found out that Cassia mimosoides L., known as healthful tea, has an effect to block melanosome transport in melanocytes. Essence of Cassia mimosoides L. helps prevent transport and accumulation of melanin to keratinocytes by reducing the amount of melanosome transport regulators in melanocytes. An application of the essence to skin-lightening products will be expected.More information in Japanese (KOSE's website)
- 2010.09.24
- Waking Up Cortical Neurons by the Wave of Green Light - A basic study for the optical communication between brain and machine -
A Tohoku University research group led by Dr. Hiromu Yawo, Professor of Graduate School of Life Sciences and a PI of the MEXT-SRPBS, elucidated the structure-function relationship of channelrhodopsins (ChRs). Based on this relationship, they designed a novel channelrhodopsin variant, channelrhodopsin green receiver (ChRGR) with marked improvements in photosensitivity to green light, temporal accuracy and resolution. They also genetically engineered the motor cortical neurons of mice to express ChRGR, and focused the sinusoidal wave of green LED light on the brain with variable frequency. They found that the neuronal firings were tuned at 3 to 10 Hz in the cortical network. It appears that the wave of green LED triggers the cortical network to transit from the silent state under anesthesia to more active state with outputs to the spinal motor centers. A combination of ChRGR and optically generated patterned activity is expected to make a powerful system to directly drive a brain (Opto-current-clamp method). The above work will be published online soon in Public Library of Science (PLoS) ONE, a highly praised journal of biology and medicine, under a title "Opto-current-clamp Actuation of Cortical Neurons using a Strategically Designed Channelrhodopsin."Article (PLoS ONE; Free Access)
- 2010.08.21
- IDAC Seminar "Relationship between Neural Activity and fMRI Signal" (Spt. 6)
Speaker: Seong-Gi Kim
Title: Relationship between Neural Activity and fMRI Signal
See < http://www.idac.tohoku.ac.jp/en/seminars/100906.html > for
details.
- 2010.08.04
- Symposium:Attention and Cognition [September 18, 2010]
Special Lecture: Michael Posner
Poster submission deadline: August 20, 2010
Date: Saturday, September 18, 2010
Time: 13:00-18:00
Venue: Large Conference Room, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer,
Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
Website: http://www.idac.tohoku.ac.jp/dep/sairc/SACS2010.html
Poster Submission: FREE! Visit our website.
- 2010.05.24
- In July, Tohoku Neuroscience Global COE, in corporation with RIKEN Brain Science Institute, provides a summer retreat program in Sendai for students and post-docs interested in neurosciences.
- 2010.05.06
- Impaired Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Vascular Formation in Ephrin-A5 Deficient Mice.
A research group led by Professor Noriko Osumi (Developmental Neuroscience) has found that cell proliferation and survival of newborn neurons were severely reduced in the hippocampus dentate gyrus (DG) in mice lacking ehprin-A5 function.Article Abstract (Journal Site)
- 2010.04.20
- The 24th Tohoku Neuroscience Global COE Wakate (Young Scientists) Forum will be held on 27th Apr.
Two oral presentations and 11 posters will be shown in English.
- 2010.04.16
- We welcomed a new member, Masashi Aoki, Ph.D., M.D.. He is a neurologist and famous for his basic and translational research on ALS.
Here we show his profiles and research introduction.
- 2010.04.16
- Drs. D. Yamamoto, T. Nojima, and M. Koganezawa, at Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University and Dr. K.-i. Kimura at Hokkaido University of Education have identified a single motoneuron that induces the muscle of Lawrence (MOL), a male-specific muscle in the vinegar fly Drosophila. The research group has further unraveled the cellular mechanism for the male-specific MOL formation.
The research results have been published online in Current Biology on April 15, 2010. The paper's title is "Neuronal synaptic outputs determine the sexual fate of postsynaptic targets."
- 2009.12.20
- Tohoku University-Taiwan Neuroscience Workshop for Young Scientists
Date: 22nd Jan, 2010- 23rd Jan, 2011
Venue: The Center for Traditional Arts, Forte Dong-Shan Villa, Taiwan
Organizers:
Prof. Daisuke Yamamoto (Tohoku Neuroscience Global COE, Tohoku University)
Dr. Henry Sun (Distinguished Research Fellow, Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica)
Support: Academia Sinica, Tohoku Neuroscience Global COE
Plenary Lectures:
Dr. Ann-Shyn Chiang (The Institute of Biotechnology, Tsing Hua University)
Prof Takeshi Yagi (Graduate School of Frontier Life Sciences, Osaka University)
21st Jan (Thu) Arrival day
22nd Jan (Fri) Session I-III (oral presentations), Poster session I
23rd Jan (Sat) Session IV -V, poster session II, Visit Yi-Lan University, King Car Whiskey Distillery, or Marine Research Station
24th Jan (Sun) Return day
- 2009.05.13
- In July, Tohoku Neuroscience Global COE, in corporation with RIKEN Brain Science Institute, provides a summer retreat program in Sendai for students and post-docs interested in neurosciences.
We will call for oral and poster presentations.
- 2008.10.21
- On Oct 15th-18th Tohoku University-Fudan University Neuroscience Workshop for Young Scientists was held at Fudan University, Shanghai.
Approximately 100 researcher has attended and 44 oral presentations and 46 poster presentations were provided.
- 2008.06.13
- The deadline for application of presentation in the summer retreat
(Matsushima) is postponed to 25th June.
- 2008.05.16
- In August, Tohoku Neuroscience Global COE, in corporation with RIKEN Brain Science Institute, provides a summer retreat program in Matsushima for students and post-docs interested in neurosciences.
Instruction for application-PDF
- 2007.12.29
- Tohoku Neuroscience Global COE has established a scholarship, called the HASEKURA FELLOWSHIP.
Please contact the Group Leader in each field if you are interested in this fellowship.
How to Apply for a HASEKURA FELLOWSHIP(Word Document)
- 2007.11.21
- Tohoku Neuroscience Global COE will hold the 1st international conference, "From genes to development and behavior".