Outline:Adaptic responses in cells and tissues have been primarily investigated in the light of biological signaling. Meanwhile, recent advances in omics analyses highlight importance of sensing molecules and systems of cellular metabolites. Issues around energy hub molecules will inevitably link to glycolysis/TCA cycle/ETC including lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Living body harnesses this fundamental metabolic programming depending upon biological situations and purposes. In this symposium, distinguished specialists working on nutritional regulation, lipid mediator, adipocyte epigenetics, marine microorganism are invited to discuss molecular basis of the sensing and transduction of nutrition and environmental cues.

Outline:Systemic metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, are the key risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Recent studies have unraveled the cellular metabolism controls functions of various cells, such as immune cells, vascular cells, and stem cells, suggesting that the systemic metabolic disorder may promote NCD pathologies via modulation of the cellular metabolism. Recently, it has also become clear that chronic inflammation contributes to the development of NCDs, and the regulatory mechanisms of inflammation and metabolism interact with each other. Inflammation, particularly acute inflammation, is an essentially protective and adaptive biological response to injury and it has been demonstrated that inflammatory signals and processes trigger and lead the processes of repair, regeneration and healing of tissues. Collectively, metabolic alterations would modulate the intricately linked biological processes of tissue stress response and impairs the repair and recovery of tissue homeostasis. In this symposium we will discuss the metabolic regulation of the continuum of inflammation and repair and its implications in NCDs.

Outline:Recent innovations of mass spectrometric technologies, public databases, and informatics have moved the direction of proteomics researches from pursuit of analytical depth or coverage to “functional proteomics" which illuminates novel dynamic and functional molecular networks. This session includes presentations regarding leading-edge technologies in phosphoproteomics, glycoproteomics, chemical proteomics, and myokine profiling, which indeed allowed not only identification of function-oriented molecular crosstalks but also development of effective diagnostic or therapeutic approaches. We hope broad-ranging knowledge about the latest advancement and perspective of functional proteomics could further expand applications of proteomics researches and strongly advance the frontiers of biochemistry toward future benefits of our health.

Outline:Cryo-electron microscopy is becoming important techniques that enables near atomic resolution without crystallizing biological samples. One of the key characteristics of single particle cryo-EM, compared with other structural techniques, is that each particles are visualized. By use of this characteristic, the biochemical process can be visualized by analyzing heterogenous samples.

Outline:Recent studies highlight the liquid-like property of non-membranous organelles and subcellular structures including RNA granules, heterochromatin and transcription factory. Their formation is driven by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) through local aggregation of the component proteins with intrinsically disordered region (IDR). Most of IDR proteins are supposed to interact with DNA or RNA, which triggers LLPS. The phase-separated subcellular structures are proposed to play significant roles such as spatial sequestration of specific regulatory factors, accelerated chemical reaction by the enriched factors and formation of regulatory hub. However, the detail molecular mechanism and biological significance of LLPS remains entirely elusive in the cells. In this symposium, we will focus on phase separation in living cells covering transcription machinery, RNA granules and nuclear pore complex to survey the current status and prospects for this research field.

Outline:The focus of research on intracellular organelles has shifted dramatically in recent years from characterization of each organelle compartment separately to the study of intercompartment communication. It is thus now widely accepted that organelles do not function independently but rather interact with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) network via membrane contact sites (MCSs) throughout the cell. MCSs are microdomains where the membranes of the ER and other organelles come into close proximity in order to communicate with each other. The two membranes do not fuse, however, but rather maintain their separate identities to mediate lipid transfer, calcium ion regulation, and organelle dynamics. In this session, we discuss about the novel molecules, functions, or technologies relating to the interorganelle communication.

Outline:Autophagy is a generic term for degradation of cellular components in lysosomes and classified into three major pathways: macroautophagy (mediated by formation of the membranous organelle autophagosome), microautophagy (involving inward invagination of the lysosomal membrane), and membrane translocation autophagy (mediated by direct translocation of substrates across the lysosomal membrane). These pathways function independently or synergistically in overall lysosomal degradation. Furthermore, each pathway has substrate selectivity and regulates gene expression, intracellular metabolism, and health and aging status through spatiotemporally regulated degradation of specific substrates. In this symposium, we will discuss recent progress of molecular mechanisms and physiological function of these three autophagy pathways and the future direction in this field.

Outline:How does emotion emerge in the brain? This difficult question was unlikely to be addressed in the molecular level few decades ago. In the last decade, however, technical advances in neuroscience fields allow us to define the role of molecules such as neuropeptides and monoamines in emotional control, and to understand how they work in the network level. In this symposium, five speakers will provide topics related to the neural mechanisms of emotion, and we would like to discuss with audience about the future directions fo the research fields.

Outline:Biometals, metals in vivo, having completely different properties from the major biocomponent elements such as hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur, are vital for essential physiological functions including energy generation and oxygen transport, which can be designated as “Singularity Elements". To maintain their homeostasis, dynamics of biometals are strictly regulated by multiple mechanisms based on molecular to cells, and the failure of these regulations result in serious disease. Understanding of the functions of biometals, therefore, requires a new approach from “Integrated Biometal Sciences" focusing on the “singular points" in the research fields of molecular science to clinical medicine. This symposium will feature talks from active young researchers, and fruitful discussions of new research developments and future prospects of biometals are expected.

Outline:The diversity of the functions in compounds that possessing the tetrapyrrole structure is ‘awesome'. For instance, in mammals, the tetrapyrrole pigment such as heme is contained in hemoglobin that carries oxygen in blood, and chlorophyll is used for utilizing light in photosynthesis in plants. In addition, an anti-oxidant of the bilirubin, and the light sensor of bilin also have a tetrapyrrole backbone. In each biosynthesis process, the conjugated bonds and/or the central metal are added to the tetrapyrrole compound so that the resulting tetrapyrrole pigment is precisely functioned. This symposium covers a variety of topics regarding the recent findings and advances in the biochemistry and the structural biology of tetrapyrole biosynthesis.

Outline:The research of intracellular phosphosignaling has been matured by a variety of previous studies and seems to have reached a plateau. However, there are many essential problems about phosphosignaling, which should be uncovered in detail, that is, it is not clear when and where kinases and phophatases are activated in cells, what their true substrates are, and why those substrates are associated with diseases. Therefore, in this symposium, we will introduce recent researches from young scientists by using new signal detection methods and research approaches, who try to identify true substrates for kinases and phosphatases, elucidate specific mechanisms and significance of temporal and spatial regulation of phosphosignaling, and inquire into the causes of diseases by its dysregulation. We hope that this symposium will be a breakthrough for novel research development of phosphosignaling.

Outline:JNK (c-Jun N-terminus kinase), a member of MAPK family, was discovered as a protein kinase inducing apoptosis and believed to be followed by a simple scheme that this phosphorylates transcription factors for cell death, so far. However, recently, many reports have revealed that the roles of JNK have a large diversity in various cells, and even in the pathological conditions, the activity of this enzyme have some roles without directly inducing apoptosis. In this symposium, we are planning to clear a novel view of JNK that regulates the whole span of the cell life. Namely, we invite six speakers including younger researchers, who have clarified the JNK activity from the new angles in various cells such as neurons or kidney cells under physiological or pathological conditions, for example, cancer or neurodegeneration. We hope that this symposium will start the additional frontier studies of the JNK biochemistry in Japan towards the world.

Outline:It is important to observe and/or control the behavior of biomolecules in "living samples" in order to understand biological phenomena. Chemical tools have played important roles for this purpose, by visualizing or controlling the function of biomolecules of interest in the physiological context. Since its methodology and applicable range have been diversified, tight collaboration between chemists, physicists, and biologists is increasing important. In this symposium, we will have cutting-edge young scientists in the field of chemical biology and biophysics, who are trying to elucidate biological phenomena based on their original approach. We will discuss the latest technology and future prospects of biological researches based on chemical tools.

Outline:Dr. Osamu Shimomura who make a significant contribution in the field of life science by his research achievements in isolated Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) from luminous jellyfish (Aequorea Victoria) in 1962, passed away in Nagasaki on Oct 19, 2018. Numerous biological phenomena such as gene expression, localization of fusion protein and spatiotemporal monitoring were visualized by GFP with fluorescent microscopy in living cells. Dr. Osamu Shimomura received the chemistry Nobel prize with Dr. Martin Chalfie and Dr. Roger Tsien for the discovery of GFP on 2008.We would like to hold a symposium for the purpose of glancing in retrospect over his personality and scientific achievements as well as discussing prospects of life-science.

Outline:Considering increased difficulties of the recent drug development, for pharmaceutical industries aiming to develop innovative drugs, it is getting extremely important to introduce innovative drug targets or state-of-the-art drug discovery technologies into their own drug discovery and development business, thus they expect lots from academic-industrial collaboration. There are several frameworks in this collaboration, such as lab-industrial collaboration, comprehensive academic-industrial partnership, and open innovation projects. Once it starts, industries can easily access “Seeds”, drug targets or technologies, originated in academic research even at early phase, and academic researchers can learn what prerequisite studies or process for drug discovery and development are. In this symposium, the symposiasts introduce their experience in this collaboration and we would like to extract and share bottlenecks in promoting academic-industrial partnerships and discuss how we can solve the issues.

Outline:From the era of someone’s big data to the era of your own big data. Big data has been established as one of the most essential resources of scientific activities. Not only for the data analysts, but also for each of the individual researchers, utilization of big data critically defines outputs of the research activities. However, how to comprehensively utilize big data is still a hard task for most of us. This symposium aims to present the latest topics in the next era of the big data analysis achieved by the young leading investigators.

Outline:It is widely recognized that sugar chains play important roles in living organisms, however, heterogeneous and complex modification machinery, and difficulties in structure and functional analysis unfortunately have limited advances in glycoscience. On the other hand, it is definitely true that as glycan structures and modification enzymes are revealed, breakthroughs have been made for developing glycan analysis technologies and establishing therapeutic and diagnosis strategies of human diseases. In addition, recently interdisciplinary progresses in glycoscience become visible. In this symposium, we will focus on new fields developed by challenges of glycoscience such as technological advances in glycome analysis and therapeutic strategies based on biochemistry of sugar chains. We will also discuss on biomedical researches from the point of view of glycoscience, which no longer has high experimental obstacles, rather having a big potential for new breakthrough.

Outline:Glycan structures on cell surface, which are developmentally and tissue-specifically regulated, change dramatically during development and disease. Therefore, they have been used as markers for various diseases or embryonic stem cells. However, many functional analyses showed that these glycans are not merely markers. Glycans themselves transmit signals or control extracellular signals spatiotemporally. In this symposium, we focus on two kinds of glycans, glycosaminoglycans and O-GlcNAc, both of which directly link to signal. The former functions as a signal molecule or a co-receptor of growth factor/morphogen, and the latter competes with intracellular phosphorylation to control signal transduction. We will describe their action mechanisms in stem cells, cancer, hereditary diseases, and chronic diseases, and will discuss about “signals controlled by glycans".

Outline:Lipids are constituents and energy sources of biological membranes and are indispensable for maintaining functions of cells and bodies. Lipids have numerous molecular species including phospholipids, fatty acids, sphingolipids, glycolipids and neutral fats, and its diversity is an important factor for maintaining homeostasis of biological functions, Recently, the quantitative determination method of trace lipids has dramatically improved, and from the phenotypic analysis of genetically-engineered mice, the breakdown of lipid metabolism has become clearly related to various pathophysiological conditions. When considering the development of next-generation lipid research, it is important to elucidate “Lipid Communication" focusing on the function of lipid molecules in a wide range of diseases by utilizing knowledge and analytical techniques of lipid research accumulated so far. In this symposium, we will introduce the latest research results on the discovery and significance of new lipid functions and would like to discuss the development from basic to applied research.

Outline:Cholesterol is an essential lipid molecule. Cholesterol homeostasis is strictly regulated, and its dysregulation is observed in various human diseases. Because cholesterol cannot simply be degraded in mammals, it undergoes metabolic conversion into a variety of cholesterol metabolites including cholesteryl ester, oxysterols, bile acids, and cholesteryl glucoside. In contrast to intensive investigation of cholesterol importance, physiological and pathophysiological roles of cholesterol metabolites have not been fully understood. Recent studies demonstrate crucial roles for cholesterol metabolites in various pathophysiological settings including Alzheimer's disease, cancer, infection, and metabolic diseases. In this symposium, we will provide up-to-date information on cholesterol metabolites and discuss their structural and functional diversities in human health and disease.

Outline:Multicellular organisms especially take the survival strategy by partly lowering the functions of cells/tissues/individuals, that is, to make them "quiescent" and to secure room to respond to exogenous and intrinsic stress. Quiescence was recognized as "passive saving phenomenon", but it is becoming clear that it is an active phenomenon and is controlled by various environmental stimulation. The induction, maintenance, and release of quiescence are finely regulated by so-called “quiescence signals" which actively tune quiescence at various levels. In this symposium, we will present the cutting-edge knowledge on the features and control mechanisms of various quiescence phenomena at cellular level (stem cells, cancer cells) and at tissue/individual level (nematode, early mouse embryo, hamster). We will discuss the individuality and the universality of each quiescence phenomenon.

Outline:To drive Biochemical paradyme shift fusion research in different fields and new technologies can be driving forces. In this workshop, young researchers from both wet and dry data-driven life sciences introduce new field researches to understand bird's-eye view, using time (development, circadian rhythm, evolution), space (organs, environments), and “spatio-temporal" omics. We will also provide opportunities for young researchers to enter new fields.

Outline:In eukaryotes, nuclear architecture and dynamics affect chromatin structure, and regulate biological functions such as embryonic development, cellular differentiation, aging and/or diseases. Nucleoskeleton proteins such as nuclear actin and lamin have attracted much attention as regulators of nuclear architecture and dynamics, and it has been recently demonstrated that these nucleoskeleton proteins play important roles in regulating genomic functions such as transcription and DNA repair. In this symposium, we will introduce the recent progresses in the field of nucleoskeleton proteins and discuss how those proteins control nuclear and chromatin structures. Furthermore, we will introduce state-of-the-art technologies to manipulate nuclear dynamics by taking advantage of optogenetic tools and specific peptides that bind to nucleoskeleton. We seek to understand principles of organizing nuclear architecture and the contribution to biological functions.

Outline:Recent advances in genome science are bringing new perspectives on dynamic structures of the genome. Various forms of higher-order genome architecture, induced by epigenomic modification or association with proteins or RNAs, are known to exist at locations with specific sequence contents including repetitive sequences. They may serve as important signals for regulating chromosome events such as DNA replication, transcription, or recombination, but also become potential threats to genome integrity by inducing genome instability, ultimately causing diseases including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. In this symposium, we will discuss diverse cellular mechanisms that deal with the dynamic nature of genome structures for faithful inheritance and stable maintenance of the genome.

Outline:It is necessary to establish a combined approach in several research fields, to understand chronic diseases due to the failure to maintain homeostasis. Recently, the interaction between immune cells (macrophages, T cells, and neutrophils) and surrounding cells has been re-considered in all tissue-specific diseases, such as neuronal, kidney, metabolic, vascular diseases; however, the complicated crosstalk among those cells has not been fully elucidated. Here, leading researchers (Japan and US) studying ‘niche of chronic inflammation' using hierarchy (genome, cells, tissues, and individuals) and new technologies (genome editing, optogenetics, next generation sequencing, single cell analysis) will gather to form a novel beyond-organ community. As these researchers are performing translational research, from wet to dry and basic to clinical, this symposium can provide an opportunity for discussion to all audience including young researchers from these fields.

Outline:The human genome encodes more than 800 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), representing the largest members of gene families. GPCRs are known as the most successful target class for drug development. Recently, a class of GPCR-acting compounds called biased ligands attracts research interests because of its potential for development of new-generation drugs with reduced side effects. Yet, owing to lack of molecular understanding of how GPCR signal transduction is regulated and biased ligands induce their unique properties, we lack rational strategy to proceed the biased ligand drug development. In this symposium, we highlight emerging methods/trends of druggable GPCR researches presented by young researchers. These include novel luminescent biosensors to dissect GPCR-G protein interaction (Inoue), cryoEM technologies (Kato and Shiohoya), computational approaches (Inoue and Suno), single molecule imaging (Kasai). We will present up-to-date progresses and discuss paths to future GPCR-targeting drugs.

Outline:There have been an increasing number of attempts to measure and analyze biological phenomena at various levels of biological organization (biomolecule, cell, tissue, and organ level) by utilizing novel technologies in the field of bio-engineering. The in vitro reconstitution of biomolecules, cells, and tissues are one of the powerful approaches to comprehend the essence of biological phenomena. For instance, micro-device technologies facilitate an assembly of cells toward tissue or organ with particular functions for disease modeling or drug dosing, and make it possible to measure cellular environments in a non-invasive manner. Using liposomes or lipid vesicles as templates for artificial cell models, asymmetric lipid vesicles, which mimic the lipid composition of eukaryotic cells, are developed using engineering technologies, and multiple-step enzyme reactions for reproductions of metabolic pathways are conducted in cell-sized vesicles. In this symposium, we introduce the latest research and technologies toward understanding and determining unknown biological mechanisms in biomolecules, cells, and tissues by the approaches of microdevices and artificial cell models. We would like to discuss the use of these technologies for understanding unknown biological phenomena.

Outline:Microtubules are cytoskeletal structures highly conserved in eukaryotes,and their dynamic properties play crucial roles in diverse biological processes,such as chromosome segregation, intracellular transport, and cell shape regulation. In animal cells, the centrosomes act as a microtubule-organizing center,controlling the filament assembly dynamics and architecture in these processes. Several non-centrosomal pathways are also known. For example, the organization of microtubule-based spindles in animal meiosis and higher plants does not rely on centrosomes. Thus, eukaryotes may evolutionarily acquire various microtubule-organizing systems, adapting to environmental challenges. Failures in these processes are linked to many diseases, such as cancer, and developmental defects, such as pregnancy loss, in humans. This symposium gathers researchers working with a variety of model organisms, aiming at recognizing the differences and similarity of diverse microtubule-centrosome systems. The mechanisms will be discussed in interdisciprinary views and approaches, including genetics, biochemistry, structure, and mechanics.

Outline:A classical concept of “self" vs. “non-self" has been a long belief of immune-cell recognition. However, recent findings suggested that there must be other forms of immune-cell recognition. By conducting the studies with the novel concept of “neo-self", we are hoping that we will be able to elucidate the mechanisms underlying many immunological disorders such as autoimmune disease and allergic reactions. We are also hoping that we will be able to establish the basic knowledge for the development of a novel cancer immunotherapy. For this purpose, we have been introducing many state-of-the-art technologies including structural biology, imaging technique, single-cell analysis and genomic analysis. In this symposium, we will discuss on the studies conducted by the planned research members.

Outline:Many pathogens interact with host factors located in intracellular organelles. For example, the mitochondria and the endosome/lysosome are key organelles that sense pathogen invasion and trigger the transduction of anti-pathogenic signals thus playing important roles in the innate immune response against various pathogens. Furthermore, some pathogens such as viruses utilize the host factors in the endoplasmic reticulum or the nucleus for their efficient amplification. In this symposium, we will invite leading scientists studying organelle-pathogen interactions to share their recent advancements in this field. Emphasis will be given to the importance of “organelle zone," which was recently identified as the local functional zone in organelles. The symposium will discuss novel machinery and spatiotemporal regulation of cellular responses against invading pathogens.

Outline:Emerging research results indicate that the brain vascular system and non-neuronal glial cells synergistically contribute to logistics such as supply of nutrients, recognition of foreign molecules, and emission of catabolites and debris through forming a huge functional structure in brain. We named it as "Brain infrastructure", which is a novel concept for understanding homeostatic mechanism including logistics of multi-cellular community in the brain. We also found that decline of brain function due to aging and disease is likely to be caused by deterioration of "Brain infrastructure", therefore, structural and functional analyses of each element of infrastructure are crucial for understanding brain homeostatic mechanism and diseases. In this symposium, we would like to introduce an emerging new research field "Brain infrastructure" and promote vigorous discussion.

Outline:The brain is made up of individual neurons, and functions by forming neuronal interaction. To aim this, various neurons regulates their specific expression of genes, and the biosynthesized RNA and proteins express their proper functions spatio-temporally. Novel techniques such as the neuron-specific cTag-CLIP contribute for understanding functions in different neurons, and the forefront researches combined with traditional biochemical, molecular biological and cell biological analyses revealed the functions of specific neurons including synaptic function. In this symposium, we introduce innovative researches by young scientists, and will discuss the importance of biochemical researches in understanding the proper neuronal functions and the neuronal diseases.

Outline:The proton motive force, which is formed across the energy converting membranes such as chloroplast thylakoid membranes, mitochondrial inner membranes, bacterial cytoplasmic membranes by the electron transport system, is the key source for synthesis of ATP; the energy coin for all organisms on the earth. In this symposium, we will discuss the significance of the basic mechanism for the formation of the proton motive force, molecular machineries for this function, safety mechanism, which lie on the various proton or ion translocation machineries. Based on these various examples of the energy conversion mechanisms, we will further deepen the understanding of the proton motive force.

Outline:The significance of science communication does not lie merely in its role as the means in which experts in the scientific field explain science to others in an understandable manner. It also plays a crucial part in promoting scientific literacy in every part of the society, assisting with the pursuit of research ethics. At times in which scientific development is overwhelmingly rapid, followed by the increasing severity of competitions in finding research funds or positions within the research sphere, there is a growing concern of research ethics being neglected. In order for science communication to be in full effect, it is necessary to establish a system to educate science communicators, which go beyond the boundaries of the humanities and the sciences. In this symposium an important discussion will unfold between those leading the training of science communicators, researchers in the life sciences who face with research ethics and those covering them in the media, and finally, those who see science communication as vital part of the vast realm of interlaced knowledge.

Outline:Early detection of cancer is one of the most important factors for satisfactory prognosis of patients, and technologies capable of realizing early stage detection of cancer are urgently needed. On the other hand, because cancer is known to have big heterogeneity, finding out novel and efficient biomarkers which result in enough high sensitivity and selectivity is strongly needed, which is also quite important for realizing precision and personalized medicine of cancers. In this symposium, we will have two different discussions simultaneously. One is how to find out efficient biomarkers by utilizing state-of-the-art technologies and clinical samples, and the other is how to realize the newly developed technologies in real society as better medical means. For this end, in this symposium we will have some active researchers who have been doing both sides of researches and social activities, and ask them to provide recent concrete results and achievements to make fruitful discussions.

Outline:Mitochondria, consists of as many as 1,200 kinds of proteins weave and then forms complicated structures with dynamically changing. Functionally, it establishes the system to produce necessary energy for life as well as to control multifaceted intracellular metabolic pathways in response to various environmental changes such as oncogenic signals, aging and/or metabolic stresses. In this symposium, with the theme of "Mitochondrial Biochemistry", we focus on pioneering research and researchers attempting to elucidate the disease pathophysiology through not only genetics but also new approaches such as interactome analysis and SWATH-MS analysis. From the technical viewpoint of multi-omics and biochemical analysis on mitochondria and the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of cancer, aging, metabolic diseases, while introducing studies trying to unravel mitochondrial world, we would like to deepen the discussion with you about the new possibilities and future of mitochondrial research.

Outline:Proteins with functional native structures form from nascent polypeptide chains through evolutionally-modulated folding events. Native proteins fulfil given mission of function and end the short life with the timely degradation. Misfolded and aggregated proteins are also eliminated by the cellular quality control system for the maintenance of proteostasis. Failures in protein quality control by the molecular chaperone and degradative machinery induce misfolding-coupled protein aggregation such as amyloid fibrillation, which causes numerous serious diseases with the imbalance of proteostasis. In this seminar, several cutting-edged scholars and scientists in the field will show comprehensively the latest understanding and finding on their research topics for a drama of the protein life cycle.

Outline:The structure and biological activities of the molecular chaperones have been probed intensively, but a comprehensive view of molecular chaperone structure and function is far from complete. In this symposium, we focus mainly on our present understanding of the role of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic molecular chaperones as protein folding assistants and mediators. Topics will involve the dynamic structural transitions of periplasmic small heat shock proteins, the inter-subunit communication network of the bacterial Hsp104 ClpB, and detailed studies of the eukaryotic heat shock proteins, prefoldin and Hsp60. Methods to apply the abilities of molecular chaperones in understanding cellular protein aggregation will also be a topic of this symposium.

Outline:Mitochondria are multifunctional organelles whose quality and dynamics are directly linked to homeostasis in cells and organisms. As mitochondria are characterized with their own genome and transcription/translation machinery, impairment of those eraborate systems easily causes mitochondrial malfunctions. Recently, studies on the pathophysiology associated with dysregulation of mitochondrial dynamics has been expanding rapidly. Moreover, it has been revealed that the molecular mechanisms underlying mitochondrial fusion/fission and inter-organelle cooperation are dynamically regulated in response to intracellular environments. In this symposium, we aim to present biological universality and diversity unveiled through cutting-edge studies from young scientists focusing on mitochondria in yeast, plant, and mammalian models, and deepen our understanding of marvelous, real mitochondria.

Outline:The maintenance of characteristics of epithelial cells such as controlled proliferation, differentiation and adhesion is essential for normal functions and structure of epithelial tissue, and loss of epithelial characteristics leads to development and aggravation of many diseases, including invasive cancer and atopic dermatitis. Therefore, understanding of characteristics of epithelial cells will contribute to prevention and treatment of these diseases. To maintain epithelial homeostasis, abnormal cells are extruded apically from the epithelial sheet. This phenomenon also plays a role in tumor prevention and tissue morphogenesis.In this symposium, molecular characteristics of epithelial cells will be discussed from various perspectives such as cell-cell adhesion and plasma membrane phospholipid. Molecular mechanisms of abnormal cell extrusion and epithelial cell differentiation will be also discussed.

Outline:Various stimuli leading to cell death finally disrupts the integrity of the plasma membrane through impairment of asymmetrical distribution of plasma membrane phospholipids, oxidization of plasma membrane lipids, or activation of pore-forming proteins. Thus, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms how the integrity of the plasma membrane is maintained under physiological and pathological conditions. Moreover, the interplay between dying cells and nearby living cells is also essential for maintaining tissue homeostasis. Specifically, under certain conditions, live epithelial cells have been shown to protrude dying epithelial cells. In this symposium, we will show how various types of cell death impairs the integrity of the plasma membrane and how an intimate crosstalk between dying cells and nearby live epithelial cells is established through the plasma membrane. Based on these findings, we will discuss the mechanisms how the membrane integrity is maintained under various conditions.

Outline:In this symposium, we aim to introduce novel concepts and methods in the field of neuroscience and channel biology to the broader audience of the Biochemical society. Brain function is mediated by neural circuits composed of 100 billion neurons in the brain. Neural circuits utilize changes in neuronal membrane potential as a principal means of signaling, and ion channels are the principle regulators of membrane potential. Dynamic changes in ion channel activity and localization are involved in coding diverse brain functions, including learning and memory. Furthermore, dysregulation of channel activity causes various diseases, so called “channelopathies”, including epilepsy, schizophrenia, and mental disorders. In principle, channel function in vivo is determined by the abundance and activity of channels at their appropriate location for each channel. However, their precise mechanisms determining these factors remain unclear. Four speakers in this symposium will present recent progress covering channels and their interacting molecules, and their dynamic regulation in health and disease.

Outline:Parasitic organisms rely on their host for nutrients and resident. They exploit elaborated metabolic plasticity to adapt into the hostile environmental niche of host. Elucidation of underlining mechanisms of such strategies helps us to combat infectious agents, and also provides fundamental knowledge on basic biology, biochemistry and evolution of life. In that sense, the Warburg effect found in some cancer, which can be considered as parasitic cell derived from host, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins in Trypanosoma are only two of such great discoveries that were made from the studies on metabolism, and exerted unmeasurable influence on other fields of life science. In this symposium, we will highlight embryonic but ground breaking researches by world leading young scientists with focus on central metabolism which plays key role in pathogen adaptation to host environment.

Outline:Recently, new insights into the macrophage biology in terms of their development as well as function or relation to various diseases have rapidly emerged. Moreover, key molecules for the regulatory mechanism of such macrophage functions has also been clarified and thought to be good therapeutic targets. In this symposium, therefore, the novel regulation of the blood cell lifetime by macrophages and that of the neuronal or immune system, particularly through the neuron guidance factor, by macrophages will be first demonstrated. Moreover, it will be also presented that macrophages play important roles in regulation of the autoimmune through exosomes, as well as of adipose tissue homeostasis. Finally, the recent discovery of a new member of macrophages, SatM, highly related to tissue fibrosis will be presented.

Outline:Cellular signaling pathways, fundamental biological processes in living organisms, are higher-order non-linear reactions that are intricately modulated by various biological factors and mechanisms. It is now appreciated that such complex and dynamic nature of cellular signaling in itself serves as the driving force to generate the diversity of biological outcomes. Recent advances in the field of biomolecule metrology (e.g., multi-omics analysis and bio-imaging) make it possible for researchers to acquire comprehensive data concerning signal transduction networks and their spatio-temporal dynamics. However, to deal with and integrate such big data, strategies based only on existing biochemical approaches are not sufficient. In order to understand complex biological systems (i.e., cells or organisms) as a whole, and to clarify the pathophysiology of human diseases, introduction of cutting-edge methodologies of mathematical and data sciences into biomedical research is essential. In this symposium, speakers from various fields of biology, including molecular and mathematical biology, will present recent advances in the understanding of critical signaling pathways that are involved in the etiology of human diseases. Furthermore, future perspectives of interdisciplinary alliances between mathematical science and biomedical research will be discussed.

Outline:As cells have membrane of lipid bilayer, living organisms constitutively “feel” osmotic pressure generated by solutions adjacent to each side of the membrane. All organisms are equipped with sensing and responding mechanisms to this primitive osmotic information, which is altered by dry, dehydration and change of solute (e.g. ions). However, as osmolality does not have specific substance entity, it is not totally elucidated in molecular level how cells sense osmotic stress and transduce the information. While, it is recently noticed that organisms actively use osmotic information; e.g. immune cells are activated by local osmotic environment in vertebrates. In this symposium, we will introduce recent knowledge of sensing and responding mechanism to osmotic stress in yeast, plants and animals, including molecular mechanism and intercellular signal transduction managing systemic homeostasis. We would like to discuss the underlying mechanisms that regulate various physiological responses induced by osmotic environment with comparing organisms belonging to different kingdoms.

Outline:Physical forces govern a variety of biological processes including movement of intracellular machineries, cellular processes, tissue morphogenesis and physiological functions. Moreover, impaired mechanosensing systems are involved in pathogenesis of diseases such as hearing loss, vascular diseases, and cancer metastasis, thus suggesting the importance of mechanobiology in our lives. However, our understanding on mechanobiology is still limited due to its complexity and diversity. In this symposium, speakers will present their latest advances in mechanobiology from the viewpoints of biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, and medical sciences. We expect this symposium will provide opportunities to advance the integrative understanding of force-mediated biological processes at molecular, cellular, and physiological levels.

Outline:Biomembranes, mainly composed of lipids, provide not only a static barrier to isolate the inside from outside of cells but also a dynamic field to catalyze various physiological functions, including intracellular transport, cell migration, organelle division, and virus infection. However, our understanding of the physical mechanism of these membrane dynamics at the molecular level is not very advanced. The reasons include that lipids retain a unique chemical nature, and that lipids are not a direct product of genes. As a result, conventional biochemical and genetic methods cannot easily analyze lipids. Although experimental systems using cells offer a physiological environment, it is necessary to take into consideration the contribution of other molecules in the cell, making it difficult to obtain a unified rule. One approach that can overcome these limitations is cell-free systems such as liposomes and giant unilamellar vesicles with a concise set of biomolecules. In recent years, due to breakthroughs in engineering, synthetic biology and biochemistry, biomembrane dynamics has been successfully reconstructed in a cell-free manner. In this symposium, we focus on four types of membrane dynamics, namely "division", "deformation", "transportation", and "fusion". We also want the audience to enjoy clear and beautiful images of the reconstituted membranes.

Outline:Protein phosphorylation plays crucial roles in the regulation of a variety of biological phenomena and is precisely regulated by kinases and phosphatases. Although we should focus on both kinases and phosphatases to fully elucidate the regulatory mechanism of protein phosphorylation, research on phosphatases has apparently attracted less interest than that on kinases. However, phosphatases sometimes have the initiative to turn on/off phosphorylation-dependent signaling, such as in the case when basally phosphorylated proteins are functionally modulated by dephosphorylation. Thus, research on phosphatases is a prerequisite for exploring unknown signaling mechanisms. In this symposium, we will focus on new approaches from the phosphatase side and discuss novel signaling mechanisms and biology that have been overlooked in the kinase-oriented approaches.

Outline:Exosomes are vesicles of only 30-200 nm in diameter encapsulated in lipid bilayer membranes. It is secreted extracellularly from almost all cells and has been drawing attention as a new vehicle for intercellular communication and as a tool for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. Not only Exosomes but also cells are covered with glycans, as well as RNAs, lipids, and proteins at the outermost layers. Glycans regulate physicochemical properties of exosomes and function as "starting point" when communicating to cells. However, the actual state of glycans of exosome has not been clarified. At this symposium, we focus on glycans of exosomes and discuss the possibility of glycans of exosome by discussing them from various perspectives such as analysis, structure, synthesis, imaging, function, medicine, etc. centered on biochemistry. We aim to open new breakthroughs of exosome research by participating widely among researchers from various research fields and developing active discussions.

Outline:Even though life science and medical technology is continuously advancing, infectious disease is still high-ranked in the cause of death. Bacteria are being evolved for much longer time than humans and can be categorized into several types by their strategies for surviving: One independently evolved without the involvement of humans, another to grow symbiotically with humans, and other to fight against human life. On the other side, humans have the immune system to defense against bacterial pathogens by sensing their signatures. In the interaction event by host receptors (often referred as toxins), glycans and lipids are often recognized as “non-self" components owing to their structural diversity and species specificity. In turn, there are several cases in which host glycans and lipids are recognized by bacterial receptors. In this symposium, we would like to expand our knowledge on host-microbe interactions from the expertise provided by the symposiasts on the front line.

Outline:Lipids are a class of hydrophobic molecules that function as structural component of biological membrane, neutral lipids as a major form of energy storage, and lipid mediators as signaling molecules. Precise determination of each molecular species of lipids, namely LipoQuality (quality of lipids), is important to understand their biological significance.In this symposium, we will discuss about the functional roles of diverse lipid species in biology, especially focusing on the mechanisms in which specific quality of lipids are required to elicit biological functions.

Outline:Lysophospholipids are derivatives of phospholipids in which one of the acyl chain has been removed by hydrolysis. Recent researches have revealed that many lysophospholipids are not mere intermediate metabolites but function as signaling molecules in diverse physiological processes. Especially, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) are involved in the regulation of functions in many types of cells such as vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, platelets and lymphocytes. This symposium will feature recent advances in the lysophospholipid mediator field. Topics covered are production and transport of lysophospholipids, application of mass spec technology, and novel functions of lysophospholipids in angiogenesis.

Outline:In Japan, a super-aging society, health promotion and disease prevention by eating healthy foods attract a lot of attention. These healthy foods contain bioactive phytochemicals that activate and/or repress their cellular target signaling pathways and induce beneficial effects on human health, such as anti-oxidant production, hormone secretion, and DNA damage protection. However, little is known about the molecular basis of these effects. In this symposium, we present cutting edge of research on food phytochemicals and their cellular targets, such as sulforaphane-Nrf2, resveratrol-SIRT1 and capsaicin-TRPV1, and discuss future directions in "foods and health".

Outline:Organs and tissues are composed of diversity-rich heterogeneous cells differentiated from tissue stem cells. Such cellular diversity is important for the construction and maintenance of robust organs and tissues enduring environmental changes. So, it is speculated the collapse of the cellular diversity causes onset and development of various diseases including cancer. Although the integrated analysis of such interaction has not been done so far, recent developments of the technologies and analyzers make it possible to acquire omics data at the single cell levels and to analyze the numerous amounts of data as big data. Taking this opportunity, we need to make 3D cell atlas and to create mathematical model to simulate the invisible inter-cellular interactions within the organs and tissues that is not clarified by existing biological methods. In this symposium, members of our Cellular Diversity project will present their cutting-edge research findings and will discuss future directions of the cellular diversity researches to understand the fundamental principle of robust organ construction and to identify the clues that are associated with disease onset.

Outline:Since eukaryotic genomic DNA is packaged into chromatin, replication, transcription and repair occur on chromatin structure. Therefore, it is important to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these biochemical reactions on chromatin structure. So far, these reactions have been analyzed using naked DNA as templates, however, recent studies uncover how these reactions occur on chromatin. In this symposium, in addition to chromosome condensation and segregation, we will show recent data and discuss how replication, transcription and repair occur on chromatin.

Outline:To discover a fundamental principle is one of the greatest pleasures of the scientists. In biology the “law of inheritance" and the “theory of evolution" were presented as the principles of “preservation" and “conversion" of the species, respectively. The “central dogma" was also presented as the principle of conversion from genetic information to substantial materials. These principles contribute to the solution of various biochemical and biological mechanisms in diverse organisms. Biologists have accumulated the largest volume of knowledge ever. Nevertheless, they fail to find new principles like the ones mentioned above. In this symposium we introduce the studies in which the scientists are engaged to get closer to a discovery of fundamental principle.

Outline:Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases of adult-onset, and there has been an increasing demand for mechanism-based therapies as the aging of society progresses. Although a number of genes responsible for familial forms of PD or juvenile parkinsonism (PD genes) have been identified, the molecular pathogenesis underlying the disease remains largely unknown. However, in recent years, there have been several breakthrough discoveries in this field, including ubiquitin phosphorylation by PINK1 and Rab phosphorylation by LRRK2, both of which are thought to be involved in the physiological quality control of intracellular organelles. In this symposium, speakers actively working on the PD gene products will present their new findings. Based on these presentations, we will discuss the molecular pathogenesis and the potential therapeutic targets for PD.

Outline:According to their high therapeutic efficacy, antibody drugs have established a solid state as pharmaceuticals. However, when considering the large potential including the high-targeting specificity and effector functions with antibodies, the new next-generation of antibody medicines could be expected through various approaches. In this symposium, in order to accelerate the studies to generate next-generation pharmaceuticals, we would like to consider the current state and perspectives about this area, focusing on researches to produce highly functional antibodies beyond the conventional method. Specifically, a human antibody-producing mouse to develop human antibodies on a mouse, Casmab antibodies beyond the concept of conventional cancer-specific antibodies, site-specific modification technologies essential for its functionalization through sugar and affinity peptide modifications, and finally antibody-drug conjugates and the neuronal transporting antibodies that are achieved by combining these technologies will be presented.

Outline:The translation apparatus is an enormous complex centered on the ribosome, and plays a critical role in regulating post-transcriptional gene expression. In recent years, previously-unknown post-transcriptional/translational modifications have been discovered in ribosomes and translational factors, and the function of the translation apparatus is dynamically regulated by these modifications under various environmental conditions. Dysregulation of these modifications result in pathological consequences. In this symposium, we will share and discuss our latest findings how the ubiquitous translational apparatus acquires "individuality" with these modifications and regulates gene expression in spaciotemporal manner.

Outline:Morphogenesis is a part of developmental and regenerative processes that are induced by tissue remodeling based on genetically programed cellular dynamics. Cellular dynamics includes various physical factors such as cellular shape, size, migration and stiffness. Although the relationships between genes and morphogenesis have been clarified, it has not been fully understood how cellular dynamics regulates morphogenesis. For this, factors required for morphogenesis should be extracted by using various techniques and evaluated by proper model implementation. In this symposium, we will discuss methodologies to elucidate principles of morphogenesis based on understandings of cellular and tissue dynamics and implementation of mathematical modeling approach.

Outline:Upon recognizing hazardous substances such as pathogens, immune cells are activated to eliminate or inactivate hazardous substances. Because excess or inappropriate immune responses can cause tissue destruction, immune responses are tightly regulated by active inhibitory mechanisms. Recently, receptors and cells with inhibitory and regulatory functions attract high attention of scientists of broad fields including basic, clinical, and pharmaceutical sciences. Blocking Abs against CTLA-4 and PD-1, inhibitory co-receptors that activate tumor-specific T cells to eradicate tumor cells have been approved for use in multiple cancers. Various trials are on going to treat cancer or autoimmune diseases by regulating the number or function of regulatory T cells. In this symposium, we discuss recent advancements on our understanding of the active inhibitory mechanisms for immune system.

Outline:Spreading drug-resistant pathogens and appearance of emerging re-emerging infectious diseases accelerates researches - from basic studies to drug development - on infectious diseases. Pathogens, including virus, bacteria, fungi, and parasites possess various, unique strategies to maintain their life cycles; for instance, invasion into and colonization at host tissues and cells, and proliferation under stringent environments inside and outside hosts. Molecular mechanisms underlying these features have been gradually unravelling. In this symposium, we will discuss about the recent progresses and future perspectives in our understanding of “biochemistry of pathogens", approaching unique and challenging techniques.

Outline:In recent years, several large-scale projects and high throughput screenings are progressing in the neural network research. On the other hand, however, many important proteins whose functions and control mechanisms are unknown are left. Researcher's passion and new technologies are needed to fully understand the details of individual proteins. At this symposium, we invited female and young researchers who have been very active in recent years. They will give a talk about the biochemical research of proteins important for the formation, function, and regeneration of neural networks. We also wish to discuss the future of neural network research.

Outline:It is well known that protein function is regulated by posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, acetylation, glycosylation, and methylation. In particular, methylation of lysine and arginine residues of histones and non-histone proteins is acting on a variety of biological processes, for example, the formation of protein complex, signal transduction, splicing, transcription, and metabolism. Of both residues, arginine one is a unique target because it can be methylated and citrullinated. Emerging roles of the modification of arginine residues are recently uncovering in not only cellular actions, but also whole body functions. In this symposium, we will discuss open questions related to homeostasis and its function of protein arginine modification on the basis of biochemical and structural aspects of enzymes and substrates.

Outline:Production of bioenergetics (ATP) proceeds efficient electron transfer depending on the reduction-oxidation (redox) mechanisms. Bioelectrons from electron donors are transferred to electron acceptors through electron transfer intermediates, located mainly on plasma membranes of prokaryotes and on mitochondrial inner-membranes of eukaryotes, and are under complex regulation. This symposium will provide a forum for discussion on complexity regulation of bioenergetics and electron coupling. Topics will include reactive sulfur species on respiratory chain regulation, adaptive environmental responses and bioenergetics in bacteria, eukaryotic bioenergetics on longevity, metabolic disorders and cancer, and new technologies for bioenergetic measurements.

Outline:Reactive oxygen species (ROSs) and reactive nitrogen species (RNSs) as well as electrophiles act as signaling molecules in the cells and are important for the organism. Oxidative stress or reductive stress disrupt these signaling and induces cellular derangements such as cell deaths. Redox metabolism is intimately linked with cellular metabolism such that glutathione and NADPH are generated through amino acid and glucose metabolisms and ROSs are generated from mitochondrial metabolism. In this symposium, we will focus on the Nrf2 oxidative stress response, reactive sulfur metabolism, and endoplasmic reticulum stress response and also discuss the cross-talk with various metabolic pathways such as autophagy, mitochondria and nutrition starvation response.

Outline:This symposium invites the speakers who develop novel biologics and discusses the recent advance of their innovative work and future perspetives, which potentially leads to innovation started from Japan.

Outline:The symposium is co-organized by Japanese Biochemical Society and government research programs “Disease related metabolites”, supported by AMED-CREST and JST-PRESTO. The programs contain essentially three parts such as (1) findings new metabolite biomarkers to diagnose and predict outcome of diseases, (2) discovering new protein or disease targets of known drugs or chemicals, and (3) establishing new technologies (omics technology, bioinformatics etc) to enhance above reverse and forward translational research activities. 6 Active researchers of these programs are selected and will give talks on the current achievements and future challenges of their researches. In addition, we are happy to have Professor Ian Blair (University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine) as a guest and keynote speaker of this symposium. He is discussing on the challenge to find out biomarkers of cancers and rare diseases using high-resolution mass spectrometry and molecular biology.

Outline:Non-enzymatic glycation was first reported in the field of food chemistry as a condensation reaction between reducing sugars and amino acids. This reaction is also called “glycation" and generates the advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in advanced stage. Detection of AGEs in samples are still difficult and many studies overestimate AGEs levels in physiological samples, and some other studies brown pigments are mistaken for AGEs. In this symposium, The active researchers from the Japan Maillard Reaction Society (JMARS) and the International Maillard Reaction Society (IMARS) will present their state-of-the-art studies for glycation and discuss the current status and future prospects to elucidate the involvement of AGEs on age-related diseases.

Outline:Accelerated by technical progresses in omics-based approaches, we begin to find that cancer cells have metabolic properties distinct from their normal counterparts. It remains elusive, however, whether such metabolic alterations are driving cancer development and progression or simply are the consequences of cellular transformation. Identifying and understanding specific metabolic “pressure points” in cancer will allow us to develop effective therapeutic strategies. At the Symposium, we invite investigators doing cutting-edge research and discuss new findings linking metabolic pathways, nutrients and microenvironment with cancer.

Outline:The transport of lipids between different membranes in cells is mediated not only by vesicular trafficking systems, but also by lipid transport proteins at membrane-contact sites in a non-vesicular manner. The transbilayer transport of lipids is mediated by integral membrane proteins including P4-ATPases, ABC transporters, and scramblases. Multiple transport systems appear to work in concert to control the different compositions of membrane lipids in different organelles. However, the mechanisms by which the functions of intracellular lipid transport systems are controlled and how different transport systems operate in concert currently remain unclear. Furthermore, the development of inhibitors specific to lipid transport systems has been limited. By introducing several recent studies on these issues, this symposium aims to clarify the significance of the control of all intracellular lipid transport systems.

Outline:Recent studies have demonstrated that liquid droplets of proteins and nucleic acids that are generated by liquid-liquid phase separation are common in cells, which attract remarkable attention from biologists as a new principle of organization and functionalization of biomolecules. Autophagy and ubiquitin-proteasome system, major intracellular degradation systems, contribute to intracellular homeostasis through degrading damaged proteins and organelles. Interestingly, these degradation systems are regulated by phase separation that is promptly induced in response to the environmental changes and stresses. In this symposium, we will introduce cutting-edge knowledge on the regulation of autophagy and ubiquitin-proteasome system by phase separation and the behaviors of liquid droplets as a degradation substrate, and reconsider the framework of degradation systems using the concepts of phase separation.

Outline:How do developmental processes proceed autonomously at predictable times, and what is the mechanism of measuring the timing of such processes? We still do not have clear answers to these long-standing questions of developmental biology. For example, during cortical development, neural stem cells change their competency according to a programmed schedule, suggesting that these cells carry an internal biological clock that controls developmental processes. On the other hand, extracellular environments, which also change over time, feed back to the clock in neural stem cells, and the interplay between the developmental clock and the extracellular environment is very important for cortical development. In this symposium, we will discuss the recent findings about the timing mechanism of development of the brain and other tissues.

Outline:Membrane transport proteins generate disequilibrium of biomolecules across lipid-bilayers, and the disequilibrium sustains life. Among over 500 of membrane transport proteins in human body, many of them are yet orphans and even known molecules require more research in detail. Although biochemistry is fundamental to research membrane transport proteins, we, membrane protein biochemists need to admit the proteins are not always good friends of ours. Recent developments of analytical methods, such as structural biology with X ray/cryo-EM, MD simulation by computers and chemical biology/pharmacology with small molecular probes, are remarkable. In this symposium, we will invite young researchers who challenge to merge these methods with quantitative biochemistry and create new trends in the research field. We aim to discuss for the future of “Makuyusoutai-gaku".

Outline:Metabolites are final products of gene expression and they are discarded after using for chemical reactions. However, some metabolites have been discovered to lead gene transcription and translation through epigenetics or post-translational modifications. Moreover, metabolites are recognized as signaling molecules, recycling molecules or effector molecules among organelles, cells and tissues. Therefore, metabolites which are generated from various factors can cause numerous biological phenomena including cellular differentiation, tumorigenesis, redox state, allergy and immune response. Here, we termed these types of metabolites “fate-metabolites". In this symposium, researchers present their work on new fate-metabolites.

Outline:Reductionism in biology has been quite effective in analyzing the molecular and chemical basis of numerous biological processes. Such approach relies on the deterministic view of molecular process, and because of that, biochemists still struggle to bridge the gap between living organisms and molecular machineries. To solve such problems, we have to reveal an information contraction between the different hierarchy levels. Recent progress in imaging and simulation techniques have shown that biochemical processes in cells temporally change and are spatially diverged. Therefore, it is hard to address the diversity and dynamism of protein networks by traditional biochemical approaches. In this symposium, we would like to discuss the importance of innovation in biological chemistry to deal with stochastic rare events, spatial fluctuation, and variability in biology.

Outline:The olfactory receptor family was discovered in 1991. Genome projects have revealed the sequences and number of the family in more than 100 mammalian species (Niimura). The mechanisms underlying the selective expression of an olfactory receptor gene have been revealed (Hirota). The neural circuit responsible for the olfactory signal that elicits behavior has been elucidated (Koide).The olfactory receptors expressed in non-olfactorytissues have beeninvestigaed (Yamada). The application of olfactory receptors-food odorants matrix to develop palatable foods has been tried in companies (Ijichi). In this symposium, the whole picture of recent olfactor receptor studies will be presented.

Outline:In the framework of the central dogma, gene expression is precisely regulated, not merely upon classical transcription and translation, but also at numerous steps including epigenetic modification of the genome and degradation/modification of RNAs and proteins. However, those regulations have often been considered as if they act uniformly or as an ON/OFF switch, hindering our understanding of their dynamics. In this symposium, we would like to highlight the importance of quantitative characterization of gene regulation based on new technologies, and discuss how we can use such knowledge to manipulate biological processes.

Outline:According to a survey published in Nature in 2016, 52% of researchers answered that "there is a serious reproducibility crisis" in life science, 70% failed to reproduce experiments of others. Reproducibility is at the core of science and technology. If it is difficult to repeat the experiments of others, it can be a trigger for fraud and can be a cause of labor intensive work style. Automation of experiments using robots and information technology is very promising as a measure for dramatically improving productivity and can present an effective solution to the problem of reproducibility. At this symposium, we discuss the possibilities automatic experiments and automatic experiment design.

Outline:Cells are continuously exposed to a wide variety of stresses. Accordingly, cells need to induce appropriate stress responses in order to maintain homeostasis, thereby possess stress receptors and stress sensing mechanisms. Moreover, cells also possess divergent information processing mechanisms and signaling networks to convert cellular stresses into appropriate cellular responses. Recently, an interesting portion of stress sensing systems and molecular programs to select the optimal stress response has been uncovered. In this symposium, active presenters including young leading investigators will introduce the signaling mechanisms that regulate stress sensing and determine the induction of stress responses.

Outline:In modern global society, the networks of information and logistics sustain social activity. It is not a simple thing from the start point to the end point, but a variety of elements interact with each other as if the society itself is a complex system like life. Likewise, when the body is understood as the integration of the local networks of logistics by biological factor “biologistics", it is important to command a Bird's-eye view of the networks.The networks have been individually studied. It has been fragmented as a research genre. However, recently it has become obvious that these factors are not a single route, and each network is mutually interactive. Accordingly, these factors are responsible for maintaining the homeostasis of individuals and adapting to changes in the environment by affecting each other. Neurotransmitters, hormones, cytokines, etc. are distinguished by the main biological functions in the steady state. However, in fact, they should be understood as the same line and integrated because they work for relays in the network of biologistics. In this proposal, integrated understanding of the biologistics such as neurotransmitters, hormones, cytokines, extracellular vesicle, mineral, lipid mediators, lymphocytes, tumor cells, etc. is pursued. It brings about elucidatio

Outline:The circadian clock controls daily rhythms of a wide variety of physiological processes. Maintaining the clock systems is thought to be advantageous for almost all the organisms to survive, because the clock activates these processes only when necessary. In contrast, perturbation of the clock function is linked with many diseases. Understanding of the molecular clock mechanism has been advanced by discovery of the clock genes. However, further studies are required to reveal how the feedback loop based on transcription, translation, and post-translational modification of clock genes and clock proteins can generate stable rhythms with one-day period. In this symposium, we will discuss recent advances of the clock research to tackle this fundamental question by applying biochemistry of the clock proteins in combination with cutting-edge omics analysis, chemical biology, and structural biology.

Outline:In recent years, our understanding on the commensal microbiome has been accumulated, and it has now been obvious that commensal microbiome has a significant impact on the pathogenesis and symptoms of a varaiety of diseases. Microbiome studies has been accelerated by large governmental projects both in the EU and the US for the last 10 years. We had no such governmental grant support until recently, but AMED-CREST "Understanding the interactions and symbiosis between the microbiome and the host organism, leading to an understanding of the mechanisms of disease onset" has been launched in 2016 that helps promoting microbiome research in Japan. In this symposium, some studies performed under this AMED-CREST program will be introduced,

Outline:Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) is rapidly increasing world wide, and Japanese Diabetes Society and Japanese Society of Nephrology announced STOP-DKD declaration in 2017 to combat against DKD together. Various basic and clinical studies to prevent DKD are on-going globally, and it is awaited to understand the biochemical mechanisms of development and progression of DKD and develop diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic approaches of next generation. DKD is chronic kidney disease induced by disturbance of glucose metabolism, and a variety of stress components (oxidative stress, hypoxic stress, organelle stress) and maladaptive responses are deeply involved in the mechanism of kidney dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and fibrosis. Epigenomic changes in DKD are also important targets of new therapeutic approaches. In this symposium, we summarize up-dated pathophysiology of DKD from the points of view of kidney and metabolism and discuss future prevention and therapy of DKD and problems to achieve health and longevity society.

Outline:Animal behaviors are controlled by a complicated mechanism in the brain. Brain science has made great progress with the remarkable development of methods and techniques in recent years. However, animal behaviors are too complicated to solve the whole mechanism. In this symposium, we will present recent researches focusing on the research that connects animal behavior and molecular dynamics in the brain. They are based on common keywords, “molecular in the brain" and “animal behavior", but they are about various animal species and behaviors. We would like to also discuss and prospects for future research on the molecular mechanism in the brain that controls behavior.

Outline:Humans are symbiotic with bacteria. An intestinal flora is formed in the human intestine. It is well known that the biological activity of bacteria has a great influence on human health. When we fight against pathogenic bacteria, we has killed the most of targets with antibiotics so far, however, the drug-resistant bacteria emergent one after another. At this symposium, six up-and-coming researchers will talk about development of a method different from the previous strategy. We will introduce the studies on; controlling the pathogenic secretion system or motility function of bacteria; suppressing the growth of pathogenic bacteria by controlling biological activity of probiotic bacteria; in addition, phage therapy research that can kill a specific bacterium by designing artificial phage.

Outline:The Golgi complex is considered to be composed of at least four distinct compartments, termed the cis-, medial, and trans-Golgi cisternae and the trans-Golgi network, that functions as the post-translational modification factory and trafficking hub for proteins and lipids in the cells. However, by the latest fluorescence and electron microscopy as well as computer simulation, the Golgi structures have been revealed to be more complicated such as a formation of several zones responsible for different functions and the structural changes depending on the cellular status. Furthermore, as novel functions of Golgi apparatus, the specific systems of stress response, protein transport and protein degradation, have been found. In this symposium, we would like to introduce recent topics of the detailed structures and biological functions of Golgi apparatus and discuss the relationship between the Golgi structure and function.

Outline:We reported that the inhalation of H2 gas (IH) has been demonstrated to limit the infarct volume of the brain by selective reduction of toxic reactive oxygen species in 2007. The paper has been cited ~900 times. Moreover, consumption of water with dissolved high concentration of H2 prevents and/or cures various diseases by animal and clinical studies. H2 treatment is safe and effective in patients with acute cerebral infarction, post-cardiac arrest syndrome, and dementia. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the biological effects of H2 are still being investigated. Many studies indicated that H2 treatment activates transcription factors NFAT and Nrf2 pathway in vitro and in vivo, regulates mitochondria functions and modifies nuclear genome. Here, we would like to discuss about recent findings on the molecular mechanisms of H2.

Outline:Living system maintains homeostasis by dynamically adjusting metabolism according to environmental changes. Metabolic syndrome including diabetes, cancer, aging, inflammatory diseases and drug response, etc. is considered as consequences of metabolic adaptation by the living system. Such metabolic adaptation is achieved by dynamic remodeling of trans-omic networks across multi-omic layers including metabolomics, genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic and proteomic layers. s. In this symposium, we would like to introduce various approaches and research for transomics analysis of metabolic homeostasis.

Outline:Mitochondria are essential for the functional and structural integrity of neurons. Mitochondrial functions and dynamics orchestrate signaling and cellular processes, and their abnormalities are linked to a number of neurodegenerative diseases. In this symposium, the latest findings in the roles of mitochondria in neurodegenerative diseases will be discussed. Topics include mitochondrial functions in the synapses in neurotransmission and local proteostasis, mitochondrial dynamics and calcium homeostasis, brain imaging to analyze mitochondrial functions in the patients with Alzheimer's disease, and the molecular targets and development of the therapeutics for mitochondrial disease. We believe that this symposium will enhance the multi-disciplinary, collaborative, 'bench-to-bedside' approach.

Outline:Essential trace element “Selenium" is mainly incorporated into the protein in the form of selenocysteine (an amino acid in which sulfur of cysteine is replaced by selenium) and exerts its physiological function. The necessity of selenium has been investigated at the molecular level, and physiological functions of selenocysteine-containing proteins (selenoproteins) have been clarified. Recently, however, the progress of molecular mechanism research of several diseases has revealed that selenoproteins are deeply involved in the onset and progress of diseases and become an important therapeutic target. At this symposium, researchers, who are engaged in state-of-the-art research at the cutting edge of disease and selenoproteins, will present recent progress of their research. Through this symposium, we will discuss the maintenance and the failure of the selenoprotein's physiological function. In particular, we consider the relationship between the redox control and each disease mechanism and deepen its understanding.

Outline:Oxidized mitochondrial DNA (8-oxoG-mtDNA) in body fluids can be a marker of dementia. Once the sequence is known, marker analysis and the mechanism of disease can be elucidated, but there is no sequencing method for 8-oxoG-DNA. Here, we propose a method of searching candidate sequences using artificial nucleic acid (Adap)-DNA which forms a complementary chain depending on the base sequence containing 8-oxoG as a probe for fluorescence polarization measurement. In addition, we discuss potential markers from the viewpoint of DNA damage cell death mechanism and human mtDNA sequence structure. For the measurement of biological trace amounts of molecules, we will consider application of electrochemical measurement method using nanocarbon based on latest semiconductor nanotechnology.

Outline:Reverse chemical genetics is a discipline that studies the functions of target molecules and life phenomena using compounds that specifically interact with target molecules such as proteins. Because reverse chemical genetics utilizes compounds instead of point mutations of genes in reverse genetics, it may lead to the development of drug discovery research if target molecules are involved in diseases. In this symposium, we will introduce reverse chemical genetics studies that target factors involved in epigenetics or ER stress, or nucleic acids and related drug discovery researches. In addition, we will also introduce the comprehensive exploration method for disease target molecules, which have the potential to produce a new reverse chemical genetics research. Through these research topics, we would like to discuss the usefulness and the future development of reverse chemical genetics research.

Outline:Mitochondria are essential organelles that not only produce the cell’s energy in form of ATP through oxidative respiration but also participate in other processes such as the regulation of cell death or metabolism. Mitochondria are highly dynamic and motile in the cytoplasm and frequently divide and fuse with each other. Furthermore, mitochondria produce large amounts of reactive oxygen species that are fatal to cellular functions. Defects of these mechanisms cause various disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases, heart failure, metabolic disorders, and aging. Recent research have been clarified the molecular details of pathophysiological functions of mitochondria in vitro and in vivo. In this symposium, recent advances in mitochondrial research will be discussed.