Article
Biology
Yuu Ishii, Hironori Ishii, Takeshi Kuroha, Ryusuke Yokoyama, Ryusaku Deguchi, Kazuhiko Nishitani, Jun Minagawa, Masakado Kawata, Shunichi Takahashi, Shinichiro Maruyama
Summary: This study reveals that low pH conditions stimulate the release of monosaccharides from symbiotic dinoflagellate and this release is linked to the deformation of cell surface structures and upregulation of cellulase genes. In addition, the release of monosaccharides can be suppressed by a cellulase inhibitor.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cintia Iha, Katherine E. Dougan, Javier A. Varela, Viridiana Avila, Christopher J. Jackson, Kenny A. Bogaert, Yibi Chen, Louise M. Judd, Ryan Wick, Kathryn E. Holt, Marisa M. Pasella, Francesco Ricci, Sonja I. Repetti, Monica Medina, Vanessa R. Marcelino, Cheong Xin Chan, Heroen Verbruggen
Summary: The green alga Ostreobium is a crucial member of the coral holobiont, involved in skeletal decalcification and providing photosynthate to bleached corals. Its genome shows adaptations to low light conditions and other stressors, and it relies on other holobiont members for vitamin B12. Metatranscriptomic analysis revealed variable responses among coral samples and different Ostreobium genotypes.
Article
Ecology
Jun Ishida-Castaneda, Akira Iguchi, Kazuhiko Sakai
Summary: A study found that the presence of symbiotic algae significantly decreases basal DNAm rates in corals. However, the presence of symbiotic algae increases DNAm levels in corals when exposed to heat stress.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kieran D. Cox, Mackenzie B. Woods, Thomas E. Reimchen
Summary: The study suggests that coral richness and hue diversity significantly predict fish richness in different fish families, with varying degrees of correlation, and hue plays an important role in maintaining fish richness and abundance.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Keren Maor-Landaw, Marion Eisenhut, Giada Tortorelli, Allison van de Meene, Samantha Kurz, Gabriela Segal, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen, Andreas P. M. Weber, Geoffrey I. McFadden
Summary: The symbiotic partnership between corals and dinoflagellate algae is crucial for coral reefs. The transporter protein BmSWEET1 in dinoflagellate cells is responsible for transferring glucose from algae to the host coral tissue, providing the necessary energy for coral reefs. This study provides insights into the mechanism of nutrient exchange in coral-algae symbiosis.
ISME COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sangeeta Negi, Zoee Perrine, Natalia Friedland, Anil Kumar, Ryutaro Tokutsu, Jun Minagawa, Howard Berg, Amanda N. Barry, Govindjee Govindjee, Richard Sayre
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eunchul Kim, Akimasa Watanabe, Christopher D. P. Duffy, Alexander V. Ruban, Jun Minagawa
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Hiroki Kato, Ryutaro Tokutsu, Hisako Kubota-Kawai, Raymond N. Burton-Smith, Eunchul Kim, Jun Minagawa
Article
Ecology
Mariko Kishimoto, Andrew H. Baird, Shinichiro Maruyama, Jun Minagawa, Shunichi Takahashi
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mahendra K. Shukla, Akimasa Watanabe, Sam Wilson, Vasco Giovagnetti, Ece Imam Moustafa, Jun Minagawa, Alexander Ruban
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Eunchul Kim, Keisuke Kawakami, Ryoichi Sato, Asako Ishii, Jun Minagawa
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xian Jun Zhang, Yuki Fujita, Ryutaro Tokutsu, Jun Minagawa, Shen Ye, Yutaka Shibata
Summary: This study investigates the in vivo reversible changes in intracellular distribution of chlorophyll fluorescence during light-induced state transitions in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, using a newly developed noninvasive excitation-spectral microscope technique that provides powerful spectral information about excitation-energy transfer between Chl-a and Chl-b.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Taro Maeda, Shunichi Takahashi, Takao Yoshida, Shigeru Shimamura, Yoshihiro Takaki, Yukiko Nagai, Atsushi Toyoda, Yutaka Suzuki, Asuka Arimoto, Hisaki Ishii, Nori Satoh, Tomoaki Nishiyama, Mitsuyasu Hasebe, Tadashi Maruyama, Jun Minagawa, Junichi Obokata, Shuji Shigenobu
Summary: Sea slugs that sequester chloroplasts from algae can prolong their lifespan through photosynthesis. Contrary to previous beliefs, it was found that photosynthetic genes are not encoded on the nucleus, and genes related to proteolysis and immunity are up-regulated in chloroplast-enriched tissue without horizontal gene transfer. This study suggests that complex adaptive traits like photosynthesis can be transferred between eukaryotic kingdoms through unique organelle transmission.
Review
Plant Sciences
Xin Sheng, Zhenfeng Liu, Eunchul Kim, Jun Minagawa
Summary: Photosynthesis is the process by which plants and algae capture photons and store their energy through reactions in photosystem II (PSII). Recent studies on the architectures of PSII-LHCII supercomplexes in plants and green algae provide insights into the evolution of these complexes and their energy transfer pathways. The efficiency of photosynthesis largely depends on the initial reactions in PSII, involving light-harvesting and electron transfer mechanisms.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Michael Hippler, Jun Minagawa, Yuichiro Takahashi
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jun Morishita, Ryutaro Tokutsu, Jun Minagawa, Toru Hisabori, Ken-ichi Wakabayashi
Summary: Researchers isolated seven mutants with positive phototaxis to study the ROS-dependent regulatory mechanism, suggesting that the regulation of phototactic sign is not a single pathway and is influenced by various cellular factors. Interestingly, five mutants showed faster growth rates than the wild type, indicating potential clues for efficient algae cultivation by analyzing mutants with defects in phototactic-sign regulation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Asuka Tanno, Ryutaro Tokutsu, Yoko Arakaki, Noriko Ueki, Jun Minagawa, Kenjiro Yoshimura, Toru Hisabori, Hisayoshi Nozaki, Ken-Ichi Wakabayashi
Summary: Photo-induced behavioral responses are crucial for motile phototrophic organisms to survive in changing light conditions. Studying different types of green algae, researchers found that they exhibit various photobehaviors, such as phototaxis and photoshock responses. Interestingly, a four-celled algae Tetrabaena socialis did not show immediate photobehaviors after light exposure but instead slowly accumulated towards the light source.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Akiko Isomoto, Eiichi Shoguchi, Kanako Hisata, Jun Inoue, Yinrui Sun, Kenji Inaba, Noriyuki Satoh, Tomohisa Ogawa, Hiroki Shibata
Summary: This study identified genes involved in the modification and functioning of venom proteins in Protobothrops flavoviridis, a venomous snake species. Genes encoding protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family members, Selenoprotein M (SELENOM), and Calreticulin (CALR) were highly expressed in venom glands, suggesting their potential role in protein folding and modification.
Article
Plant Sciences
Xiaowei Pan, Ryutaro Tokutsu, Anjie Li, Kenji Takizawa, Chihong Song, Kazuyoshi Murata, Tomohito Yamasaki, Zhenfeng Liu, Jun Minagawa, Mei Li
Summary: The study provides high-resolution structures of the PSI-LHCI-LHCII supercomplex from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, elucidating the assembly mechanism between the PSI-LHCI complex and phosphorylated LHCII trimers, as well as the direct interactions between specific LhcbM isoforms and the PSI core. Functional studies on mutant strains lacking LhcbM1 or LhcbM5 demonstrate that only LhcbM5 is essential for supercomplex formation, revealing specific interactions and potential energy transfer pathways between green algal PSI and phosphorylated LHCIIs.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ryutaro Tokutsu, Konomi Fujimura-Kamada, Tomohito Yamasaki, Keisuke Okajima, Jun Minagawa
Summary: Photosynthesis in chloroplasts is crucial for photoautotrophic growth, while non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) helps prevent the generation of reactive oxygen species under excess light. In the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, UV light activates NPQ-dependent photoprotection more rapidly than visible light, leading to faster gene expression and protein accumulation related to photoprotection. The action spectrum of UV-dependent induction of photoprotective factors suggests that C. reinhardtii senses longer-wavelength UV compared to the dicot plant Arabidopsis, indicating a unique UV response in green algae.