February 19th, 2021
Our lab's new research article "Molecular basis of accessible plasma membrane cholesterol recognition by the GRAM domain of GRAMD1b" is now published in The EMBO Journal.
GRAMD1 proteins are evolutionarily conserved endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-anchored sterol transporters that sense a transient increase in accessible plasma membrane (PM) cholesterol and facilitate its extraction and transport to the ER to maintain cholesterol homeostasis. Here, we identify that the GRAM domain of GRAMD1b possesses distinct sites that each contribute to sensing cholesterol and anionic lipids, including phosphatidylserine (PS), within the inner leaflet of the PM bilayer and fine-tunes GRAMD1b-mediated ER-PM tethering and accessible cholesterol transport.
For more information regarding the paper: https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/embj.2020106524
For more information regarding the paper: https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/embj.2020106524
Congratulations to everyone!
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January 19th, 2021
Annual Saheki lab cleanup!
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We spent a whole day cleaning our lab! We are ready for a fresh start! |
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December 10th, 2020
Yasunori Saheki co-chaired the minisymposia session entitled "Organelles, Membrane Contact Sites and Lipid Trafficking" at an online ASCB|EMBO meeting.
We had outstanding speakers with lively Q&A discussion!
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December 3rd, 2020
Yasunori Saheki has been selected as EMBO Global Investigator.
We are excited to be a part of the EMBO Global Investigator Network. This will further enhance our networking and collaboration activities. Thank you for the current and former lab members for their hard work!
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Research Project: Dissecting the importance of cholesterol homeostasis for neuronal function Press release by EMBO Newsletter by LKCMedicine |
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December 3rd, 2020
Yasunori Saheki gave an invited talk at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan.
Yasunori gave a talk as one of the invited speakers of the workshop entitled "Organelle communication and neuronal homeostasis". We discussed the recent progress in the studies of organelle crosstalk with fantastic line up of speakers!
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MBSJ2020 Online, December 2nd - 4th, Zoom |
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August 17th, 2020
Yasunori Saheki was awarded the MOE Academic Research Fund Tier 2!
MOE (Ministry of Education, Singapore) provides grants for academic research in Singapore. With the support from MOE, the Saheki lab aims to further Investigate the importance of cholesterol homeostasis in cell physiology.
March 4th, 2020
Nur Raihanah Mohd Harion passed her qualifying exam!
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Many congratulations to Raihanah for her impressive work! |
January 22nd, 2020
Annual Saheki lab cleanup!
We spent a whole day cleaning our lab! We are ready for a fresh start!
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December 9th, 2019
Yasunori Saheki gave a talk at ASCB | EMBO 2019 meeting at Washington D.C., U.S.A.
Yasunori gave a talk as one of the speakers of the mini symposium entitled "Lipid Regulation and Transport in Membrane Remodeling". We discussed the recent progress in the studies of lipids with fantastic line up of speakers!
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ASCB | EMBO 2019, December 7th - 11th, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C., U.S.A. Agenda and list of the speakers |
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December 4th, 2019
Yasunori Saheki gave an invited talk at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan at Fukuoka, Japan.
Yasunori gave a talk as one of the invited speakers of the workshop entitled "Emerging concepts of inter-organelle communications in cell physiology". We discussed the recent progress in the studies of organelle crosstalk with fantastic line up of speakers!
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MBSJ2019, December 3rd - 6th, Fukuoka International Congress Center | Fukuoka sun palace hotel & hall | Marine Messe Fukuoka, Japan |
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November 14th, 2019
Our lab's first research article "Movement of accessible plasma membrane cholesterol by GRAMD1 lipid transfer protein complex" was published in eLife.
In this work, we characterized an evolutionarily conserved family of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-anchored lipid transfer proteins, namely GRAMD1 proteins, using mammalian cell culture and in vitro biochemical analysis. We found that GRAMD1 proteins bind one another, sense a transient expansion of the accessible pool of plasma membrane (PM) cholesterol and facilitate its delivery to the ER at ER-PM contact sites, thereby maintaining PM cholesterol homeostasis. Since ~80% of cellular cholesterol is enriched in the PM, but its biosynthesis occurs entirely in the ER, such PM to ER communication helps the cells to monitor PM cholesterol levels and regulate cholesterol biosynthesis in the ER in order to prevent cholesterol over-accumulation.
For more information regarding the paper: https://elifesciences.org/articles/51401
For more information regarding the paper: https://elifesciences.org/articles/51401
Congratulations to everyone!
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September 30th - October 1st, 2019
Yasunori Saheki visited Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) at Seoul and Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI) at Daegu in Korea.
Yasunori Saheki, Assistant Professors Hiroshi Makino, and Tsukasa Kamigaki together with Professor George Augustine visited two prominent Korean research institutes and discussed future research collaborations. We gave talks at both institutes and enjoyed interacting with a number of excellent neuroscience researchers.
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September 25th, 2019
Lab BBQ @ Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Yunnan Garden Campus.
We enjoyed BBQ with a lot of food and drinks!
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August 2nd, 2019
We attended LKCMedicine Dinner & Dance 2019 at Sheraton Towers Singapore! The theme was "Ugly Sweater". We had a great time!
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July 28th, 2019
Yasunori Saheki gave an invited talk at NEURO2019 at Niigata, Japan.
Yasunori gave a talk as one of the invited speakers of the symposium entitled "Failure of organelle communications as a key pathomechanism for neurological disorders". We discussed the recent progress in the studies of organelle crosstalk and membrane traffic in the context of neurological disorders with fantastic line up of speakers!
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NEURO2019, July 25th - 28th, Toki Messe, Niigata, Japan
Agenda and list of speakers |
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May 30th, 2019
Yasunori Saheki gave an invited seminar at Hiroshima University Medical School in Japan.
Yasunori gave a seminar on "membrane contact sites and non-vesicular lipid transport" at Hiroshima University Medical School. The seminar was followed by lively discussion. Prof. Kazunori Imaizumi of the Department of Biochemistry, the leading scientist of ER stress response and organelle zones, was the host of the event.
May 29th, 2019
Yasunori Saheki gave an invited talk at an international symposium on "Organelle Zones" at Osaka University Medical School in Japan.
Yasunori gave a talk entitled "Functional dissection of membrane contact sites in intracellular lipid transport" as one of the invited speakers. Tim Levine, Franck Perez, and Julia von Blume are other foreign invited speakers of the event. We discussed the recent progress in organelle zones, including membrane contact sites, ER stress response, mitochondria dynamics, GPI side chains, Golgi, membrane traffic, and high resolution imaging with spectacular line up of speakers!
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Organelle zones: Opening a new era of Cell Biology May 29th, Alumnus Union Building, Osaka University Medical School, Japan Meeting report in Contact |
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April 17th, 2019
New review article was published online!
“SMP domain proteins in membrane lipid dynamics” in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)
In this review article, we describe the localization and function of SMP domain proteins, focusing on their roles in intracellular lipid transport at membrane contact sites.
For more information regarding the review:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S138819811930054X?via%3Dihub
Congratulations to Darshini for her first publication in the Saheki lab!
For more information regarding the review:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S138819811930054X?via%3Dihub
Congratulations to Darshini for her first publication in the Saheki lab!
February 28th, 2019
Tomoki Naito was awarded Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Overseas Research Fellowship（日本学術振興会・海外特別研究員）!
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Congratulations to Tomoki for this prestigious fellowship! 
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February 21st, 2019
Prof. Tim Ryan from Weill Cornell Medical College visited LKCMedicine and gave us an inspirational lecture on mitochondrial function at neuronal synapses.
We attended a mini-symposium on synapse biology and brain disorders. Prof. Tim Ryan was among the keynote speakers. Following the symposium in the morning, Prof. Ryan spent the afternoon with us discussing science and academic career.
New Frontiers in Synapse Biology and Brain Disorders February 21st, LKCMedicine, Singapore |
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January 22nd - 23rd, 2019
We attended LKCMedicine Research Retreat!
We enjoyed attending the annual research retreat at Clinical Sciences Building. We presented posters and learned the recent progress in research at LKCMedicine. Fantastic key note lectures were delivered by Bruno Reversade (A*STAR), Brian Kennedy (NUS & Buck), and Atsushi Iriki (RIKEN). Read more here.
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January 17th, 2019
Prof. Reinhard Jahn from Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry visited LKCMedicine and gave us an inspiring lecture on membrane fusion!
Prof. Jahn delivered a lecture on membrane fusion. We were inspired by his seminal discoveries on the functions of SNARE-proteins and the regulation of membrane dynamics.
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December 11th, 2018
Annual Saheki lab cleanup!
We spent a whole day cleaning our lab! We are ready for a fresh and productive start in 2019!
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November 7th - 10th, 2018
We attended Mechanobiology Institute's 10th Anniversary Conference at National University of Singapore (NUS)!
We learned about the recent progress in mechanobiology and mechanomedicine from excellent speakers, including Michael Sheetz, Satyajit Mayor, David Weitz, Sunney Xie, Elaine Fuchs and many others.
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Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, 10th Anniversary Conference November 7th - 10th, Shaw Foundation Alumni House, Singapore Agenda and list of the speakers |
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September 28th, 2018
Lab BBQ @ Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Yunnan Garden Campus
We enjoyed BBQ at NTU with our three new members, Bilge Ercan from National University of Singapore (NUS), Nur Raihanah Binte Mohd Harion from NTU, and Hong Zheng (Dylan) Koh from NTU. Welcome Bilge, Dylan and Raihanah!
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September 5th - 7th, 2018
Yasunori Saheki visited University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan to advance the MOU signed between LKCMedicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus
Yasunori Saheki and Nanyang Assistant Professor Luo Dahai together with LKCMedicine Executive Vice-Dean Prof Lionel Lee travelled to Japan to visit the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa to advance the MOU signed between the two medical schools. We met with the University of the Ryukyu’s senior leaders including University President Professor Hajime Oshiro, Faculty of Medicine Dean Professor Hajime Ishida, University Hospital Vice-Director Professor Yusuke Ohya and visited their hospital and research facilities. During the visit, we discussed various opportunities for student exchange programs and research collaboration.
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August 27th - 29th, 2018
Yasunori Saheki gave an invited talk at the 15th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific Society for Neurochemistry (APSN) organized by APSN
Yasunori gave a talk in a symposium entitled "Stereotypy and flexibility of gene expression and lipid delivery underlying synaptic plasticity and cognitive function". We discussed a wide variety of topics ranging from intracellular lipid delivery to mRNA modification and local translation in neurons.
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APSN2018: The 15th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific Society for Neurochemistry August 27th - 29th, Holiday Inn Macau Cotai Central Macau, China Agenda and list of the speakers |
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August 1st, 2018
Yasunori Saheki was awarded the MOE Academic Research Fund Tier 1!
With this support from MOE (Ministry of Education, Singapore) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, the Saheki lab aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of aging via functional dissection of cellular lipid homeostasis.
August 1st - 2nd, 2018
Yasunori Saheki gave an invited talk at the 6th National Conference on Laboratory Animal Science in Malaysia
Yasunori delivered a talk about C. elegans genetics and mammalian cell biology as one of the invited speakers in the section of alternative models in animal research. We discussed animal welfare and good laboratory practice and the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) of animal research.
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6th National Conference on Laboratory Animal Science (NCLAS) August 1st - 2nd, Avenue Garden Hotel, Bangi, Malaysia Agenda and list of the speakers |
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July 2nd, 2018
Darshini Jeyasimman passed her qualifying exam!
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Many congratulations to Darshini for her impressive work! |
June 20th, 2018
Dr. Ken Uematsu from Kurume University School of Medicine visited the Saheki lab and gave an inspiring seminar!
Dr. Uematsu delivered a talk on a potential therapeutic benefit of Fingolimod (FTY720) treatment in addiction. We enjoyed his visit to our lab.
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Fingolimod structure
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May 22nd, 2018
We attended inaugural Stem Cell Symposium organized by LKCMedicine!
We learned about the recent progress in stem cell research from excellent speakers, including two key note speakers, Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte and Charles ffrench-Constant.
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Stem Cell Symposium: Regenerative Medicine at a Glance May 22nd, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore Agenda and list of the speakers |
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March 29th - April 1st, 2018
Yasunori Saheki gave an invited talk at the 6th International and National Symposium on Membrane Biology organized by the Biophysical Society of China
Yasunori delivered a talk about the extended synaptotagmins as one of the invited speakers. Christian Ungermann, Gyorgy Hajnoczky, Jodi Nunnari, William Prinz and Benoit Kornmann are among other invited foreign speakers. We discussed the recent progress in membrane biology, including membrane contact sites, autophagy, mitochondria dynamics, and high resolution imaging with spectacular line up of speakers from all over China!
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ISMB2018: The 6th International Symposium of Membrane Biology and The 15th National Symposium of Membrane Biology March 29th - April 1st, Smoky Willow Hotel & Resort, Huangshan City, Anhui, China Agenda and list of the speakers |
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March 7th-9th, 2018
Yasunori Saheki gave an invited talk at the 7th International Singapore Lipid Symposium (iSLS7) organized by Professor Markus Wenk at National University of Singapore (NUS)
Yasunori was one of the 41 speakers of this exciting lipid symposium. We discussed new developments in mass spectrometry-based lipid analysis and various aspects of lipid biology during this three day research intensive symposium.
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iSLS7: The 7th International Singapore Lipid Symposium March 7th - 9th, Centre for Life Sciences, NUS, Singapore Agenda and list of the speakers |
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February 1st - 2nd, 2018
We attended International Young Investigators Symposium organized by LKCMedicine!
We enjoyed excellent keynote lectures given by great lineup of speakers. We also participated in round table discussion on Day2 to interact with the speakers. It was a very inspiring event. Agenda and list of speakers
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January 17th, 2018
Yasunori Saheki was awarded the MOE Academic Research Fund Tier 2!
MOE (Ministry of Education, Singapore) provides competitive grants for academic research in Singapore. With the support from MOE, the Saheki lab aims to further dissect the functions of membrane contact sites in cellular lipid homeostasis.
January 12nd, 2018
NTU President Professor Subra Suresh and Provost Professor Ling San visited LKCMedicine!
Yasunori introduced the research projects of the Saheki lab to Professor Subra Suresh and Professor Ling San at the LKCMedicine library.
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December 22nd, 2017
Inaugural Saheki lab cleanup!
We spent a whole day cleaning our lab and office space. We are ready for a fresh and productive start in 2018!
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December 8th, 2017
“Ca2+ releases E-Syt1 autoinhibition to couple ER-plasma membrane tethering with lipid transport.” was published in The EMBO Journal.
In this paper, we described the mechanisms that control ER-plasma membrane tethering and lipid transfer mediated by the extended synaptotagmin 1 (E-Syt1). We found that Ca2+ releases C2-domain dependent E-Syt1 autoinhibition to couple tethering and lipid transfer. As E-Syts are evolutionarily conserved across all eukaryotic cells, our study highlights the critical role of such coupling in the regulation of non-vesicular lipid transport at membrane contact sites.
For more information regarding the paper: http://emboj.embopress.org/content/early/2017/12/08/embj.201797359
For more information regarding the paper: http://emboj.embopress.org/content/early/2017/12/08/embj.201797359
October 27th, 2017
We attended LKCMedicine Dinner & Dance 2017 at Fairmont Singapore! The theme was "around the world", and we dressed up in Hawaiian Style. We had a great time!
August 31st, 2017
Yasunori Saheki delivered a talk at Brain Challenge 2017: The 20th Annual Meeting of the Korean Society for Brain and Neural Science Co-organized by the Korean Society for Neurodegenerative Disease as an invited speaker.
Yasunori was an invited speaker of a symposium on "Synapses, Circuits and Optogenetics". The meeting had over 1000 participants from all over the world with many high quality talks and posters.
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Brain Challenge 2017: 20th Annual Meeting of the Korean Society for Brain and Neural Science
August 30th - 31st, Grand Hilton Seoul, Korea Agenda and list of the speakers |
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July 20th, 2017
Yasunori Saheki was selected as Ageing Research Institute for Society and Education (ARISE) fellow by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
To tackle ageing society, ARISE aims to keep the silver generation stay healthy through prevention, treatment and management of various age-related diseases and encourage an active lifestyle as well as lifelong learning. Through the seed funding from ARISE, our lab aims to identify novel therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease by focusing on membrane contact sites.
July 7th, 2017
Our lab was featured in LKCMedicine Research Spotlight and Corporate Video!
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June 18th-22nd, 2017
ISDB Singapore 2017 / 18th International Congress of Developmental Biology
We attended 18th International Congress of Developmental Biology organized by Professor Philip Ingham. Professor Ingham, current president of ISDB, is Professor at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and Director of the Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK. It was a fantastic meeting with six Nobel Laureate Lecturers!
18th International Congress of Developmental Biology
June 18th - 22nd,
University Cultural Centre, National University of Singapore
Agenda and list of the speakers
June 18th - 22nd,
University Cultural Centre, National University of Singapore
Agenda and list of the speakers
May 10th, 2017
Yasunori Saheki was awarded Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A) from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
JSPS provides competitive grants for academic research in Japan. By taking advantage of a visiting associate professorship at Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Japan, the Saheki lab aims to further elucidate the role of endoplasmic reticulum - plasma membrane contact sites in lipid transport.
April 21st, 2017
Lab Lunch @ Nickeldime Drafthouse
We enjoyed pizza and beer at Nickeldime Drafthouse @ Novena Regency with our two new postdocs, Jingbo Sun from from State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China, and Logesvaran Krshnan from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Department of Medical Biology, the University of Melbourne, Australia. Welcome, Jingbo and Loges!
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April 3rd, 2017
Two review articles were published!
“Endoplasmic Reticulum-Plasma Membrane Contact Sites” in Annual Review of Biochemistry
“The Extended-Synaptotagmins” in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)
In these two review articles, we described the recent advances in the field of membrane contact sites, focusing on the roles of these sites in cellular lipid delivery with special emphasis on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-plasma membrane (PM) contact sites (Annual Review of Biochemistry) and the evolutionarily conserved family of the ER-PM tether extended-synaptotagmis (BBA).
For more information regarding the reviews:
http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-biochem-061516-044932
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167488917300678
For more information regarding the reviews:
http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-biochem-061516-044932
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167488917300678
March 16th-17th, 2017
Brain Networks: From Molecules to Diseases Symposium
Our Neuroscience and Mental Health Theme organized two-day neuroscience symposium at the Clinical Sciences Building, Novena, Singapore. Over 100 participants from various schools and research institutes attended the event. We enjoyed wonderful talks and exciting discussions!
Brain Networks: From Molecules to Diseases Symposium
March 16th - 17th,
Learning Studio, Clinical Sciences Building, LKCMedicine
Agenda and list of the speakers
Read more here
March 7th, 2017
Lab Lunch @ JUMBO Seafood
We enjoyed Singapore's signature chilli crab at JUMBO seafood with our first visiting student, Naoki Arasaki, from University of Ryukyus School Of Medicine, Okinawa, Japan. Welcome, Naoki!
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February 13th, 2017
We moved to Novena Clinical Sciences Building!
We moved to the level 11 of the Clinical Sciences Building (CSB) at Novena, a central district in Singapore. Great environment to do research! Very nice view from our lab!
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October 7th, 2016
Two Inspiring Conferences in Singapore!
We attended two inspiring conferences in Singapore! Both of the conferences were extremely vibrant with the stellar lineup of speakers from all over the world.
East-West Connections: Grand Challenges in Brain, Cognition and Good Life Research
October 3rd - 5th,
Nanyang Executive Centre, Nanyang Technological University
Agenda and list of the speakers
October 3rd - 5th,
Nanyang Executive Centre, Nanyang Technological University
Agenda and list of the speakers
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ZDM9, Zebrafish Disease Models Conference
October 4th – October 7th, Marina Bay Sands Agenda and list of the speakers |
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We are looking forward to attending many more exciting conferences in Singapore!
September 1st, 2016
New appointment as a visiting associate professor at Kumamoto University, Japan.
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Yasunori Saheki was appointed as a visiting associate professor at Kumamoto University, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Japan. It will facilitate the development of our links with Kumamoto University and with Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
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July 19th, 2016
We are moving to brand-new Novena Clinical Sciences Building in late 2016!
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LKCMedicine Clinical Science Building &
Experimental Medicine Building Fly-Through |
July 14th, 2016
“Endosome-ER Contacts Control Actin Nucleation and Retromer Function through VAP-Dependent Regulation of PI4P” was published in Cell.
In this paper, we described the cellular function of VAP protein, which is mutated in a familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease and motor neuron disease. VAP protein is a ubiquitously expressed endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein that plays a pleiotropic role in cellular lipid homeostasis. Our findings revealed its novel function in lipid regulation at ER-endosome contact sites. In the absence of VAP, the levels of a particular lipid, called PI4P, dramatically increase in endosomes. This PI4P increase leads to abnormal actin nucleation and intermixing of endosomes and the Golgi via disrupted retromer function. The newly identified VAP function might be critical in the pathogenesis of ALS. This project was performed in collaboration with ALS consortium initiated by Biogen Idec, a biotechnology company in Boston.
For more information regarding the paper: http://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(16)30808-X
For more information regarding the paper: http://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(16)30808-X
April 11th, 2016
“Control of plasma membrane lipid homeostasis by the extended synaptotagmins” was published in Nature Cell Biology.
In this paper, Yasunori and his co-researchers described the mechanisms that counteract the acute lipid changes in the plasma membrane, the key cellular membrane that encapsulates our cells from the external environment. Human cells are often exposed to environmental stimuli that induce rapid changes in plasma membrane lipid compositions. These plasma membrane lipid changes need to be reset to the normal state in order for the cells to survive and respond appropriately to subsequent stimuli. The mechanisms that are described in this paper are likely to be conserved in other cell types including neuronal cells and potentially involved in the maintenance of neuronal plasma membranes that are essential for neurotransmission and the brain function. Failure to achieve lipid homeostasis in neurons may lead to neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
For more information regarding the paper: http://www.nature.com/ncb/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ncb3339.html
News and Views: http://www.nature.com/ncb/journal/v18/n5/full/ncb3345.html
Recommended in Faculty 1000: http://f1000.com/prime/726277237
For more information regarding the paper: http://www.nature.com/ncb/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ncb3339.html
News and Views: http://www.nature.com/ncb/journal/v18/n5/full/ncb3345.html
Recommended in Faculty 1000: http://f1000.com/prime/726277237
April 1st, 2016
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