Methylglyoxal activates the target of rapamycin complex 2-protein kinase C signaling pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Methylglyoxal is a typical 2-oxoaldehyde derived from glycolysis. We show here that methylglyoxal activates the Pkc1-Mpk1 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade in a target of rapamycin complex 2 (TORC2)-dependent manner in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We demonstrate that TORC2 phosphorylates Pkc1 at Thr(1125) and Ser(1143). Methylglyoxal enhanced the phosphorylation of Pkc1 at Ser(1143), which transmitted the signal to the downstream Mpk1 MAP kinase cascade. We found that the phosphorylation status of Pkc1(T1125) affected the phosphorylation of Pkc1 at Ser(1143), in addition to its protein levels. Methylglyoxal activated mammalian TORC2 signaling, which, in turn, phosphorylated Akt at Ser(473). Our results suggest that methylglyoxal is a conserved initiator of TORC2 signaling among eukaryotes

TOR Signaling in Budding Yeast

TOR (Target of Rapamycin) is a Ser/Thr kinase that was originally identified by genetic screening using the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The TOR protein forms two structurally and functionally distinct complexes (TOR complex 1, TORC1, and TOR complex 2, TORC2). TORC1 is involved in various cellular activities, such as cell growth, ribosome biogenesis, translation initiation, metabolism, stress response, aging, and autophagy. TORC2 is involved in actin organization, sphingolipid biogenesis, and endocytosis. TORC1 plays a central role in the signaling network in response to stimuli coupled to internal and external nutrient conditions, particularly an amino acid sufficiency. A dimeric complex of Rag GTPases, the activity of which is regulated by the guanine nucleotide-loading status, and some regulator proteins communicating with Rag GTPases are involved in the activation of TORC1 by amino acids. In TORC2 signaling, membrane stress appears to be a cue, in which some proteins associated with respective membrane compartments, such as eisosomes, play a role

木と森からモデルの予測性と理解しやすさについて考える <随想>

井上弥先生・樋口聡先生退職記念特集

Spatial Characteristics of Joint Application Networks in Japanese Patents

Technological innovation has extensively been studied to make firms sustainable and more competitive. Within this context, the most important recent issue has been the dynamics of collaborative innovation among firms. We therefore investigated a patent network, especially focusing on its spatial characteristics. The results can be summarized as follows. (1) The degree distribution in a patent network follows a power law. A firm can then be connected to many firms via hubs connected to the firm. (2) The neighbors' average degree has a null correlation, but the clustering coefficient has a negative correlation. The latter means that there is a hierarchical structure and bridging different modules may shorten the paths between the nodes in them. (3) The distance of links not only indicates the regional accumulations of firms, but the importance of time it takes to travel, which plays a key role in creating links. (4) The ratio of internal links in cities indicates that we have to consider the existing links firms have to facilitate the creation of new links

Uncovering the neural basis of cognitive impairment following hearing loss: an all-optical electrophysiology approach

We have access to state-of-the-art equipment that will enable us to visualize specific neuron types in animal models. This is a new approach that combines several recent advances in the field of \u27optogenetics\u27, a technique that uses light to control neurons. This approach will allow us to explore how hearing loss induced by loud noise exposure leads to abnormal neural activity in areas of the brain that control learning, memory and higher cognitive function.https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/brainscanprojectsummaries/1030/thumbnail.jp

Developing an Intercultural Eye for Art: The University of Chicago’s Laboratory Schools and Hiroshima University’s Affiliated High School 2019 collaborative action research

This paper serves as the report on the 2019 collaborative action research conducted by the University of Chicago’s Laboratory Schools and Hiroshima University’s Affiliated High School aimed at cultivating middle and high school students’ intercultural eye for art. An intercultural eye for art means perceiving and sympathizing with a worldview expressed in artwork from other cultures, and to foster the growth of this competency, an intercultural eye for art curriculum was designed and implemented through collaboration between the two schools. The educational effects of the designed curriculum were surveyed by administering pre- and post-questionnaires, and selected case studies demonstrated how individual students were able to establish intercultural communication through the language of art in the classroom. The research findings demonstrate that the designed curriculum was effective in broadening and deepening the students’ intercultural eye for art and their interests in further study. Furthermore, competency in an intercultural eye for art is likely to evolve in coordination with affective and cognitive responses to artwork