Functions of the tumor suppressor genes in vivo
Research Projects
Cancer, which is still increasing world-wide, is the leading cause of death. Our studies specifically examine molecular mechanisms for the onset and development of cancer using various techniques from the fields of molecular biology, cellular biology, biochemistry, and embryonic engineering. Most oncogenes and cancer suppressor genes are known to be involved not only in the onset of cancer, but also in the onset of various other diseases including development and differentiation abnormalities that critically affect whole-body homeostasis. We have continued in vivo functional analyses of p53, PTEN/P13K, and Hippo signaling pathways by generating knock-out mice. Results show that these mutant mice show various cancer and non-cancerous diseases, such as autoimmune disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and cardiac failure.
These mutant mice have become attractive and powerful tools to analyze the diseases and to develop new therapeutic methods.
Our recent researches are summarized as follows:
- Functions of Hippo signaling pathway
- p53 regulation by nucleolar stress
- Functions of PTEN/PI3K pathway in various tissues
- Molecular target drug discovery for cancers
Major Recent Publications:
- Nishio M., Hamada K., Kawahara K., et al.
Cancer susceptibility and embryonic lethality in Mob1a/1b double-mutant mice
J. Clin. Invest. 122(12): 4505-18, 2012 - Sasaki M., Kawahara K., Nishio M., et al.
Regulation of the MDM2-p53 pathway and tumor growth by PICT via nucleolar RPL11.
Nat. Med. 17(8): 944-51, 2011 - Inoue-Narita T., Hamada K., Sasaki T., et al.
Pten deficiency in melanocytes results in resistance to hair graying and susceptibility to carcinogen-induced melanomagenesis.
Cancer Res. 68(14): 5760-8, 2007 - Yanagi S., Kishimoto H., Kawahara K., et al.
Pten controls lung morphogenesis, bronchioalveolar stem cells, and nset of lung adenocarcinomas.
J. Clin. Invest. 117(10): 2929-40, 2007. - Kishimoto H.,Ohteki T., Yajima N., et al.
The Pten/P13K pathway governs the homoeostasis of Valpha 14iNKT cells.
Blood 109(8): 3316-24, 2007.
