Window to Japan
In collaboration with Kikkoman Co., a team at AIST has found that the probiotic action of Lactobacillus lactis (strain KK221 isolated from soy sauce) is based on double-stranded RNA which activates interferon-beta, suppressing inflammation. Kikkoman press release, June 21, 2013
By traditional breeding, the carrot contains nearly as much lycopene as carotene (at least 5 mg/100 g) and is marketed for its high antioxidant content as prevention against lifestyle diseases Takii Seed press release, June 17, 2013
The project seeks to alleviate the blow to Miyagi and Iwate from the East Japan great earthquake by implementing new R&D infrastructures leading to industrial recovery Nikkei Biotech press release, June 20, 2013
Professor Taniguchi was honored for his development of nanopore sequencing of individual DNA molecules German Chamber of Commerce, Tokyo, press release June 17, 2013
Targets will be undisclosed areas in cancer treatment. UMN Pharma press release, June 20, 2013
The Imperial Memorial Award of Japan, established in 1926 and presented by the Emperor through the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, has been donated to Otsuka Pharmaceuticals for the original development of aripiprazol, an agonist for dopamine D2 receptor and a unique treatment for schizophrenia, now used in over 70 countries. The prize is […]
A team of 17 medical facilities in Japan identified a specific gene variation of the urate transporter ABCG2 as a major cause for the early onset of gout in humans. Hirotaka MATSUO et al., Nature Scientific Reports June 18, 2013, doi:10.1038/srep02014
A group at Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences has shown by restoring ancestor proteins through genetic engineering that ancestral life on earth strived in an environment which was at least at 75 °C Satoshi AKANUMA et al., PNAS June 17, 2013, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1308215110
The product is flavangenol, a major constituent of pine bark extracts, which interferes with endothelin receptor ETBR, a factor which increases on UV exposure of melanocytes. The research was done by Professor Genji IMOKAWA. Lecture at 112th Japanese Dermatological Association Meeting, Yokohama
Spiber Co., a spinout of Keio University, has announced that their recombinant spider silk produced by E. coli can now be in larger quantities, and a pilot plant for 10 tons/y is under consideration. Spiber collaborates with Toyota in a joint venture. Fortune online, June 14, 2013