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Integrated Biology Laboratories

Ubiquitin Biology Laboratory

Prof. IKEDA Fumiyo Prof. IKEDA Fumiyo

Keywords:

Ubiquitin, Cell signaling, Inflammatory response, Cell death, Proteostasis

Elucidating the basic principles of the ubiquitin system, which regulates every aspect of biology

Our research focus is on a small modifier protein called ubiquitin. Because the ubiquitin system regulates every aspect of biology, its collapse induces diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders.  There are many types of ubiquitin codes that determine cellular fate. Due to the complexity of enzymatic processes that control the codes, they are not yet fully understood. My research team aims to understand the basic principles of the ubiquitin system, which would contribute to the elucidation of important issues regarding human health and disease.

The ubiquitin codes we study, called linear ubiquitin chains, are generated by LUBAC. Linear ubiquitin chains, in which two ubiquitin molecules are conjugated via a specific linkage type, regulate inflammation and cell death.

Members

IKEDA Fumiyo (Professor)  
YANAGITANI Kota (Assoc.Prof.)  
KAYPEE Stephanie (Postdoc)  
NISHIMURA Hiromi (TA)  
HARAYAMA Masako (PA)  
   
 

You could probably reach more information of individual researchers by Research Map and researcher's search of Osaka-U.

 
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Q&A

What is your hot research topic?
Recent studies show that ubiquitin modification can occur on non-protein targets. We are developing our research on the elucidation of the roles and regulatory mechanisms of ubiquitin modification on non-proteins.
Have you had any breakthroughs or significant research progress in the last 5 years?
We discovered a novel ubiquitin code that has a unique conjugation pattern using biochemical approaches (Rodriguez et al., 2021). We also revealed that an enzyme responsible for this process regulates inflammation via complex mechanisms by analyzing genetically modified mice (Gomez Diaz et al., 2021).
What kind of background do your lab members have?
Thus far, members from nine countries contributed to our research in the Ikeda Lab, including students sent from other labs, and others with various backgrounds and expertise. All have been highly motivated and full of curiosity.
Do you collaborate with other institutions and universities?
We are collaborating with researchers in Japan and Europe through the connections I made during my 15-year posting in Germany and Austria.
What kind of careers do your Lab's alumni go on to?
Many researchers from my lab have gone on to diverse career paths. Some are continuing science in academia as postdocs, PhD students, or senior research assistants; others are working in pharmaceutical companies.
How do you develop your research?
I hope we will elucidate mechanisms of more flexible types of ubiquitin editing, which may regulate human diseases.

Research Highlights

Publications (Research Articles, Reviews, Books)

2021

Carlos Gomez-Diaz, Gustav Jonsson, Katrin Schodl, Luiza Deszcz, Annika Bestehorn, Kevin Eislmayr, Jorge Almagro, Anoop Kavirayani, Mayu Seida, Lilian M Fennell, Astrid Hagelkruys, Pavel Kovarik, Josef M Penninger, Fumiyo Ikeda

The ubiquitin ligase HOIL-1L regulates immune responses by interacting with linear ubiquitin chains

iScience 24(11):103241  2021 PMID:34755089 DOI:10.1016/j.isci.2021.103241

Rodriguez Carvajal A, Grishkovskaya I, Gomez Diaz C, Vogel A, Sonn-Segev A, Kushwah MS, Schodl K, Deszcz L, Orban-Nemeth Z, Sakamoto S, Mechtler K, Kukura P, Clausen T, Haselbach D, Ikeda F

The linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) generates heterotypic ubiquitin chains

eLife 10:e60660  2021 PMID:34142657 DOI:10.7554/eLife.60660

2020

Fennell LM, Gomez Diaz C, Deszcz L, Kavirayani A, Hoffmann D, Yanagitani K, Schleiffer A, Mechtler K, Hagelkruys A, Penninger J, Ikeda F

Site-specific ubiquitination of the E3 ligase HOIP regulates apoptosis and immune signaling

EMBO J. 39(24):e103303  2020 PMID:33215740 DOI:10.15252/embj.2019103303

2018

Ebner P, Poetsch I, Deszcz L, Hoffmann T, Zuber J, Ikeda F

The IAP family member BRUCE regulates autophagosome-lysosome fusion

Nat Commun. 9(1):599  2018 PMID:29426817 DOI:10.1038/s41467-018-02823-x

2016

Asaoka T, Almagro J, Ehrhardt C, Tsai I, Schleiffer A, Deszcz L, Junttila S, Ringrose L, Mechtler K, Kavirayani A, Gyenesei A, Hofmann K, Duchek P, Rittinger K, Ikeda F

Linear ubiquitination by LUBEL has a role in Drosophila heat stress response

EMBO Rep. 17(11):1624-1640  2016 PMID:27702987 DOI:10.15252/embr.201642378

Our ideal candidate (as a graduate student)

We are looking for candidates with high curiosity who have a strong interest in our research. Anyone who enjoys new challenges, discussion, and communicating with others are welcome.

Contact

Ubiquitin Biology Laboratory, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University,
1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan.

TEL: +81-6-6879-4635

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