Yasushi YUKAWA

	Yasushi YUKAWA Professor, Ph.D. (Science)
	E-mail: yyuk TEL: +81-52-872-5039 FAX: Not avairable Research Course: Biological Science
	URL　http://www.nsc.nagoya-cu.ac.jp/~yyuk/e-index.html
Specialties	Molecular Biology, RNA Biology
Keywords	in vitro transcription system, Higher plant, RNA polymerase III, Small RNAs
Current Research	(1) Molecular analysis of gene transcription mechanism in higher plant: We are trying to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the fundamental process of gene transcription in higher plants by deploying an in vitro transcription system developed in our lab from the tobacco BY-2 culture cells. At present we are concentrating our efforts on RNA polymerase III (Pol III) based transcription. (2) Search of novel non-coding RNA species: Recent research has revealed that a large number of non-mRNAs are transcribed in most eukaryotic systems. These RNAs have been termed non-coding (nc) RNAs, and this finding is redefining the concepts of genome organization. We are trying to find new ncRNA that are transcribed by RNA polymerase III by using in vitro transcription system and bioinformatics based predictions. Comments: My lab is involved in the elucidation of molecular mechanisms fundamental to eukaryotic genes expression. We are trying to find novel gene regulatory mechanisms using experimental as well as bioinformatics approaches. We welcome anyone who wishes to hone his/her experimental as well as computational skill in the area of molecular biology. We aspire to provide clear guidance on how to thinking scientifically and make meaningful strategies for experimental research in the area of molecular biology.
Society Activities	The Molecular Biology Society of Japan, The Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists, The Botanical Society of Japan, The Genetics Society of Japan
Selected Papers	Arabidopsis Pol II-dependent in vitro transcription system reveals role of chromatin for light-inducible rbcS gene transcription. Plant Physiology, vol.170, pp.642-652 (2016). A novel hypoxic stress-responsive long non-coding RNA transcribed by RNA polymerase III in Arabidopsis. RNA Biology, Vol.9, 302-313 (2012). Plant 7SL RNA genes belong to type 4 of RNA polymerase III-dependent genes that are composed of mixed promoters, The Plant Journal, Vol.43, pp.97-106 (2005). In vitro analysis of the sequences required for transcription of the Arabidopsis thaliana 5S rRNA genes, The Plant Journal, Vol.35, pp.251-261 (2003). Identification and characterization of transcription factor IIIA and ribosomal protein L5 from Arabidopsis thaliana, Nucleic Acids Research, Vol.31, pp.2424-2433 (2003). A tobacco nuclear extract supporting transcription, processing, splicing and modification of plant intron-containing tRNA precursors, The Plant Journal, Vol.28, pp.583-594 (2001).