germline cells
Research Theme
Although individual animals do die, the species are maintained by sexual reproduction which give rises to next generation. Individuals are just like vehicles in which passenger –genetic information– can ride to be inherited to next generation through germline lineage. As such, germline cells are the most important cells to maintain the species. Drosophila melanogaster is one of the ideal model organisms where we can study gametogenesis. How are germline stem cells maintained in the microenvironment, niche? What is the molecular mechanism that controls germline cells to mature into egg and sperm? How germline genomes are safely guarded by non-coding RNA from transposons attacks? Our group has been addressing such molecular mechanisms for better understanding of gametogenesis.
News
- 2025/08/05
- A research paper by Prof. Kai, Jinglan-san, and Associate Prof. Iki as co-authors has been published in Genes to Cell! Congratulations!
Kai T,, Zheng J,, Iki T. (2025) Paralog‐Dependent Specialization of Paf1C Subunit, Ctr9, for Sex Chromosome Gene Regulation and Male Germline Differentiation in Drosophila. Genes to Cells, 30:e70040 - 2025/08/19
- Zhao-san, D2/D5 grad student in Kai-lab, has successfully completed the oral presentation in mid PhD course!
- 2025/05/01
- A technical assistant joined!! Welcome aboard, Taniguchi-san!
- 2025/04/22
- A research paper by Assist. Prof. Kawaguchi and Xin-san as first co-authors (revised and final version) has been published in eLife! Congratulations!
- Kawaguchi S, Xu X, Soga T, Yamaguchi K, Kawasaki R, Shimouchi R, Date S, Kai T. (2024) In silico screening by AlphaFold2 program revealed the potential binding partners of nuage-localizing proteins and piRNA-related proteins. eLife, 13:RP101967
- https://www.fbs.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research_results/papers/detail/1098
- 2025/04/01
- A graduate student joined!! Welcome aboard, Kurita-san!
- 2025/02/27
- Prof. Kai served as a panelist at the JSPS Symposium on Promoting Gender Equality “Academia x Gender –The Gender Landscape in Academia in Japan and Beyond–” (online) (Archived videos)
- 2025/02/10, 14
- Qin-san, Minami-san, and Chinyere-san presented their research projects at the interim examination (equivalent to the master’s thesis presentation). Well done!
- 2024/12/13
- Jun Wei, a former Kai Lab graduate from Singapore, received the Stem Cell Society Singapore’s Susan Lim Award! Congratulations!!