Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) is an important premalignant disease risk for young women. AnGes MG and Tella, a Tokyo-based vaccine company, have announced to jointly develop a therapeutic vaccine for this indication. AnGes MG press release, July 30, 2013
Nagoya group discovers biological clock of green algae
With Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a model organism, the researchers found found that the level of RHYTHM OF CHLOROPLAST 15 (ROC15), a clock component in C. reinhardtii, decreased rapidly after blue, green, and red light light exposure in a circadian-phase–independent manner. Expression analyses and inhibitor experiments suggested that this process was regulated mainly by a proteasome-dependent […]
Researchers at Tokyo University develop 1,4 ν ultrathin, highly flexible and stretchable LEDs
Weight is 3 g/m2, and electricity consumption is low. Applications are seen in medical leightweight sensor devices on skin. The development which is described in detail is part of the Sei SOMEYA ERATO project, and the group of Siegfried Bauer at Linz University is partner of this work JST news release, July 29, 2013
Tokyo University of Agriculture starts joint doctoral program with Milan University.
A major topic of the educational program is a 5 years’ joint program on the sustainable and clean production of food materials. A similar agreement has been concluded with the University of Wageningen Nikkei Biotech, July 29, 2013
Okinawa might receive additional funding for R&D
As implied by the Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs after a cabinet meeting on July 26, Okinawa might receive an additional „FIRST“ R&D assistance budget in the order of 270 billion Yen Nikkei Biotech, July 29, 2013
Kaneka can manufacture PHBH biopolymers in the 1.000 Mt/y scale
The AONILEX biopolymers 3-hydroxybutyrate-3-hydroxyhexanoate copolymers are produced from fatty acids by engineered Cupriavidus necator strains in extremely high yields. Depending on the ration of 3-hydroxyhexanoate, the properties oft he biopolymer can be modulated in a wide range Lecture of Shunsuke SATO at German-Japan Workshop on Enzyme Technology, Hamburg, July 28, 2013
Osaka team produces n-butanol cell-free by „in-vitro metabolic engineering“
The group of Dr Kohsuke HONDA at Osaka University has developed procedures based on the assembly of archae thermophilic enzymes in E. coli to design cell-free metabolic pathways for the production of value chemicals such as n-butanol Lecture of Kohsuke HONDA at German-Japan Workshop on Enzyme Technology, Hamburg, July 28, 2013
RIKEN group finds gene-expression heterogeneity in cell populations using mRNA-based „Quartz-Seq Method“
The method is based on quantitative mRNA sequencing of individual cells in a population of embryonal stem cells. It showed non-genetic gene-expression heterogeneity among individual cells. Yohei Sasagawa et al., Genome Biology 2013, 14:R31 doi:10.1186/gb-2013-14-4-r31
Japanese-Austrian team develops ultra-lightweight sensor for skin applications
A team from Tokyo University and Linz University has developed a 1 μm lightweight flexible sensor device with 144 CMOS/OFETs on a polyethylene naphtalene (PEN) elastomer which can be attached to skin without perception. Powered by lightweight solar cells, it may be used to monitor health-related data from skin. Martin Kaltenbrunner et al., Nature July […]
NEC develops portable DNA analyzer, analysis time is 60 min
The P-DNA Analyzer was recently tested with the New Zealand Institute of Environmental Science and Research in Auckland on forensic samples. The P-DNA Analyzer consists of an analyzer chip (a plastic board for analysis), a reagent package and the portable analyzer unit. The P-DNA Analyzer is designed to be user-friendly, enabling DNA analysis to be […]