The Molecular Biology Society of JapanThe 45th Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan Cooperated by the Biophysical Society of Japan

Recent studies highlight a novel form of cell-cell communication via various forms of phagocytosis including cell nibbling, or trogocytosis. Cells "share information" by nibbling or taking up whole neighboring cells in distinction from traditional ligand-receptormediated signal transduction. This session will uniquely discuss how this special form of cell-cell communication has established diverse cell functions in phagocytic cells, not just transient reactions to environmental stimuli. The exciting scope of this session will include various forms of phagocytosis in bacteria, immune cells, and their relations to disease pathologies. We will introduce the previously unrecognized importance of phagocytosis in promoting evolution and cell diversity.

Protein folding is intrinsically error-prone, and random coil polypeptides must be navigated via kinetically-trapped folding trajectories within the energy landscape to prevent aggregation. The accumulation of such aggregation causes various misfolding diseases including neurodegenerative disorders. In this workshop, we will discuss the latest findings with the brain dysfunction caused by aberrant proteins from a multidisciplinary perspective.

“Swarms" of living organisms behave intelligently as if the entire group were a single individual with a will. This behavior emerges from local interactions among the components of the swarm and is referred to as “swarm intelligence." The organisms are composed of heterogeneous cells which render the entire system function properly and generate orders even under fluctuating environments. This workshop discusses cell group behaviors aiming to elucidate the design principles of heterogeneous swarm intelligence systems and future applications in the field of engineering.

Thermogenesis observed in animals and plants are the continuous heat release from biochemical reactions in cells. In this workshop, methods to detect the thermogenesis as a temperature rise of the organelle using organelle-targeted fluorescent temperature probes will be introduced. How the elevated organelle temperature affect the biological molecules nearby? We also discuss the latest findings, which are obtained using the organelle thermometry, on non-shivering thermogenesis at the skeletal muscle and the disease related.

Cells contain chaotic mixtures in various scales, spanning from micrometer-order of organelles to several hundreds nanometers of biomolecules, within tens micrometers of cellular body. Cells sense the order produced by the interactions among these differently scaled elements and organize their sizes in harmony. This cell "cosmos" achieves individual cellular functions and characteristics. The workshop will present you bland-new studies to dissect cellular elements producing "the order" and to quantitatively and mechanically understand the framework of "the harmony".

The maintenance of intracellular metabolic homeostasis is essential for our body, and abnormalities in metabolism are closely linked to various diseases, including cancer and aging. In this session, we would like to consider the pathogenesis of diseases from the viewpoint of metabolic abnormalities.

Microbiology has always been a major area of biology for the past several hundred years, and now the era of molecular microbiology has arrived, and includes hot topics such as microbiome-host interaction, antibiotic resistance, evolution, and persistence. This workshop will discuss cutting-edge technologies, e.g., next generation sequencing, laboratory robotics, and single-cell imaging, and their applications in microbiological studies.

Advanced glycation endproducts and their precursors generated through aging, obesity and diabetes can be a pathogenic factor of cognitive impairment and peripheral neuropathy. In addition, glycative stress evoked by high-sucrose diet during adolescence is suggested to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In this workshop, cutting-edge approaches to the neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders associated with glycative stress will be introduced.

Nucleosomes, the basis for chromatin structure, and non-genome information (such as DNA methylation and histone modifications), contribute to the regulation of gene expression and higher-order chromosome structure. In this workshop, we will introduce recent progresses of chromatin structural biology revealed by structural analyses (X-ray crystallography, Cryo-EM, and NMR), bioorganic chemistry, and MD simulation techniques, and discuss the mechanisms for cellular regulation by non-genome information.

In bioimaging, which allows us to visualize the motion and mechanism of biomolecules, it is necessary to apply and develop labeling, detection, and analysis methods according to the characteristics of the molecules of interest and the purpose of observation. In other words, it is necessary to capture the target molecules by using various molecular techniques based on chemical biology in addition to imaging techniques. In this workshop, researchers involved in labeling, manipulating, and observing molecules of various sizes will gather to discuss the possibilities of new molecular imaging.

Epigenetic regulation is essential for precise genome replication, repair, and transcription. Although the next-generation sequencing has contributed to understanding the mechanism through epigenetic regulation, live-cell imaging at a high resolution is crucial for revealing the spatiotemporal dynamics. In this workshop, we discuss how the live-cell epigenetic imaging facilitates understanding the genome functions, based on presentations by speakers on the latest data using advanced microscope technologies.

Recent innovative advances in proteome and metabolome analysis technologies made it possible to analyze all layers of omics, including the genome and transcriptome. This has led to the discovery of new insights in a wide range of areas of molecular biology that could not be obtained from a single omics analysis in the past. In this session, we will focus on trans-ome analysis and introduce the most advanced and innovative bioinformatics techniques and researches, mainly by young researchers who will lead this field in the future, and discuss the importance of trans-ome analysis and future issues.

The development of single-cell analysis and cell-cell interaction analysis technologies, coupling to the advancement of proteomics and data-science, is opening up new perspectives on the pathogenesis of “life-aging-disease-death", such as disease biology of liquid-liquid phase separation and inter-organ single-cell networks. Interestingly, lifespan and aging signals are integrated into nuclear events and mitochondrial signals, or attempts have been made to control aging phenotypes in vivo by eliminating senescent cells, such as Senolytic CAR-T. Here, we will introduce the pioneering studies that have opened up the new molecular biology of "life-aging-disease-death" and deepen our discussion on future developments and possibilities.

Actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments (e.g., lamins) act as cellular skeletons, dynamically assembling in the cytoplasm and the nucleus for the operation of various mechanical processes. This workshop aims to bring researchers who study nucleoskeletal and cytoskeletal systems in diverse disciplines, with a particular focus on the systems' interplay with biochemical processes (e.g., gene expression, signal transduction) regulating embryogenesis and cell differentiation. We anticipate that the shared knowledge will provide a deeper understanding of biopolymer mechanisms and offer an opportunity for fostering new ideas for discoveries.

When stem cells self-organize multicellular tissues, organ-specific structures are "emerged" via a combination of various events, such as multilineage differentiation, coordination of cell proliferation, and morphological deformation. This constructed organ-like tissue is called "organoid" which is applicable to stem cell research, human development as well as disease modeling. In this workshop, we will discuss about technologies for controling the emergent potential of stem cells.

Our genome contains various functional elements, such as genes and enhancers. In a given nuclear environment, functional elements interact and cooperate with each other to create autonomous regulatory dynamics, that is to say "genome autonomy". In this workshop, we invite several rising researchers who seek to uncover how the genome autonomy emerges, leveraging cutting-edge technologies that accelerate discovery, dissection, and analysis of functional elements, and discuss the future of functional genomics.

The appropriate regulation of gene expression distributed throughout the genome is essential for expressing cellular functions. Specific combinations of interactions and reaction fields among a limited number of transcriptional regulators such as proteins, RNA, and DNA controls transcription spatiotemporally. The multifactorial interactions unify the entire transcription process by tightly interconnecting them. The whole transcription process is tightly interconnected through multifactorial interactions to form a transcriptional unity mechanism. In the transcriptional unity mechanism, a specific transcriptional unity is constructed for each target gene by interacting with multiple factors in different combinations. In this workshop, we would like to discuss the new spatiotemporal transcriptional regulation mechanism formed by such multifactor interactions.

Poly(A) tails are present on almost every mRNA. Early studies hypothesized that poly(A) tails promote mRNA translation and prevent degradation. However, new technologies have changed our dogmatic notion of poly(A) tails. The relationship between poly(A) tail length and translation efficiency is being reconsidered. The poly(A) tail sequencing method re-clarified that poly(A) tail lengths are not uniform as once hypothesized. In this workshop, we will introduce a perspective of current and future research of poly(A) tails.

Organisms have adapted to the various environments by flexibly rewriting their genomic information to generate specialized tissues and organs. The cardiovascular system, which consists of blood vessels, is an excellent system for multicellular organisms to efficiently supply oxygen and nutrients to the whole body and excrete waste. In this workshop, we focus on specialized cardiovascular systems to adapt to various environmental in the various animal species and discuss novel vascular functions and structures in the diversity of homeostatic functions of organisms.

The discovery of new molecular modifications and adducts has led to a greater understanding that the central dogma “DNA→RNA→Protein" is more complex than previously known. In this workshop, we invite young researchers who have discovered cutting-edge findings on the functions of molecular modifications and adducts in biological phenomena. We hope that this workshop will deepen the discussion on modification biology, which is in a time of drastic changes, and provide opportunities for new researchers to join this field and further advance.

Neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia, have a variety of genetic and environmental causes. Thus, the causes of the disease vary, but their etiology affects developmental and perinatal neurodevelopment. These results suggest that there may be common mechanisms underlying different etiologies. In this workshop, we will invite leading scientists to share recent advances in neurobiology of neurodevelopmental disorders and discuss “NeoPathology" based on common mechanisms underlying various pathogenesis.

For homeostasis, it is critical to transduce signals properly upon various exogenous stresses such as temperature, UV, pressure, bacteria, and viruses. These stimuli are recognized by cells and then the signals need to be further transmitted to other cells and tissues within our bodies. In this workshop, we will discuss latest knowledge on mechanisms how cells, tissues and our bodies respond to such stresses and control homeostasis using state-of-the-art technologies including cellular and biochemical approaches model organisms, and mathematical modelling.

Oscillations of cellular activities are widely known to control developmental processes, including somite segmentation and neural stem cells. This workshop explores novel functional oscillations that support morphogenesis and physiological coordination in multicellular systems. We will discuss topics including molecular regulations of oscillation, oscillatory waves in peristalsis, translation of peristalsis to behavior, and more.

Diverse cell types in living organisms can flexibly respond to multiple stimuli while robustly maintaining homeostasis. Recent advances in single-cell analysis and lineage tracing have led to the discovery of cellular heterogeneity and plasticity, or dedifferentiation, particularly during tissue regeneration and environmental responses. We will introduce recent research that focuses on the mechanisms and the roles of cellular heterogeneity and plasticity in different organisms and will discuss future directions.

In the field of neuroscience research, teleost fishes possess a variety of unique characteristics not found in other vertebrate species, and cutting-edge technologies have been applied to analyze them, resulting in a series of innovative discoveries. Whole-brain live imaging of small juvenile brains and single-cell transcriptome analysis of neural tissues in species that have experienced whole genome duplication has been developed using Wet and Dry technologies. In this session, we would like to discuss these studies and outlook on neuroscience research in the future.

Glycosylation is a major post-translational modification and plays important roles in multiple biological phenomena, and dysregulation of glyco-related molecules/organelle causes diseases. In this workshop, recent progress of research on such glyco-related diseases and phenomena as well as on model organisms and chemical approaches for those studies will be introduced by up-and-coming researchers.

Glial cells regulate brain development, homeostasis, and diseases, while communicating with neurons and each other. Interestingly, current researches indicate a lot of reliable evidence that glial cells contribute to information processing. In this workshop, we will discuss latest research for glial function revealed by imaging system, and omics analysis. We hope our workshop provides good opportunities to recognize the importance of glial science.

Musculoskeletal components properly connected by tendons/ligaments can act as one functional unit to support the body and control locomotion. In the cranium, bone resorption and apposition occur when sutures and synchondrosis connecting the skull bones as well as the dura mater respond to mechanical forces such as brain growth. In this workshop, we focus on interdisciplinary approaches to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of development, remodeling, and regeneration of these tissues using stem cells, animal models, organoids, or simulation studies.

Resolution revolution in cryo-electron microscopy have advanced structural biology, by enabling us to understand various phenomena occurring in living organisms from high-resolution structures of molecules. In this workshop, we would like to present and discuss the latest research on molecular mechanisms revealed by single-particle structural analysis of proteins and protein-nucleic acid complexes, and by tomographic analysis of cells.

A series of genomics data, such as genome diversity, epigenome, and transcriptome have been increasingly accumulated, covering novel data types produced by cutting-edge technologies as well as constant improvements of baseline data. We would like to overview recent updates in the field and discuss genomic aspects found in those data.

It is becoming known that many of the enzymes responsible for energy metabolic pathways in the cytoplasm form “membrane-less organelles" by liquid-liquid phase separation under specific conditions and regulate metabolic reactions. If we can understand, utilize and imitate this new mechanism of the metabolic system, we should be able to open the way to new ways of using enzymes and social implementation. In this workshop, we aim to build a place where new methodologies and knowledge can be emerged through discussions by gathering speakers who are taking on new challenges with the keywords of metabolic system or phase separation.

So far, the genome sequences of more than tens of thousands of organisms have been determined, and the overall picture of the genes that make up one organism has been clarified. In this workshop, we will focus on E. coli, which has the largest amount of functional information on individual genes and can be used to analyze the molecular mechanism of the entire genome genes using current comprehensive analysis methods, and we will discuss research that aims to understand the biological system based on the functional information of all genes and the comprehensive regulatory mechanism of the genome.

Protein assembly and disassembly regulate the processes of cell division including chromosome structural changes, the formation of kinetochores and mitotic apparatus such as microtubules and centrosomes, and the reorganization of the nuclear membrane. In this workshop, we will discuss the formation principle of these assemblies, the regulation, and the physical driving forces they generate for the progression of cell division.

The zygote formed by fertilization is a totipotent stem cell that can differentiate into all cell types and develop into an individual. However, the reprogramming process of how a fertilized egg acquires totipotency is still unclear. Recent advances in research of early embryogenesis and stem cell reprogramming have revealed dynamic changes in genome structure that are responsible for the initialization and reorganization of epigenetic information. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that nuclear non-coding RNAs are involved in epigenetic regulation of the programmed transition from totipotency to pluripotency during preimplantation development. In this workshop, we will share the latest findings on how the epigenomes that define the characteristics of totipotent stem cells are regulated, and discuss the challenges for elucidating the epigenomic regulatory networks behind the acquisition of totipotency.

Proper structures and functions of the organelles cannot be maintained with age, and this accelerates the aging of cells and organisms. Since the micro-regions (organelle zones) within the organelles are responsible for the functions of the organelles, new methods are needed to understand the organelle properly. In this workshop, we will present our research on the maintenance of organelle function and its disruption with aging using new techniques.

It is widely accepted that translational control plays a significant role in a range of diverse biological processes and diseases. For example, development of mRNA vaccine relied heavily on the recent advances in mRNA translation including cap dependent translation and codon optimality. This workshop focuses on the role of the regulation of translation across a variety of fields related to biological processes including the integrated stress response, inflammation microRNA, tRNA modifications and mTORC1 signaling.

Inflammation accumulating in the body with aging, is a major risk factor for aging and aging-related diseases. Functional food intervention is expected to be the most beneficial approach to control cognate biological functions against chronic inflammation prior to geriatric diseases. In this workshop, we would like to introduce and discuss the latest research on "Nutri-aging", how to control inflammation and homeostasis of biological functions by nutritional interventions including foods capable to control aging.

Blood vessels are localized throughout the body, and are considered one of the critical tissues to regulate all cellular functions and behaviors. Recent studies have discovered various phenomena regulating the spatiotemporal angiogenesis and vascular remodeling to adopt against physiological changes. These processes also control pathological conditions. In this workshop, we will focus on the “vascular-signpost" in the brain, lung, and skin to share topics on the development, pathogenesis, and treatment.

The proteome of a cell is a major determinant of cellular function. It is known that proteolysis may play a central role in proteome transformation during dynamic cellular and tissue changes or environmental responses. In this workshop, we will discuss the mechanisms of proteome remodeling during cellular stress, differentiation and senescence from the viewpoint of protein lifespan regulation.

Recent studies using next-generation sequencing and microscopy have revealed the hierarchical three-dimensional (3D) genome organization and its role in biological activities and diseases. However, it has been reported that its disruption has mild effects on gene expression, raising questions as to the genome-wide importance of the 3D genome in other genomic events. This workshop will introduce the efforts in various fields about the role of 3D genome structures for transcription, replication, and diseases.

In order to understand the role of nutrients in living systems, interdisciplinary nutritional research using digital technologies is necessary. In this workshop, we will discuss the digitalization of nutritional research by covering digital technologies (from digitization of information to its analysis methods) to understand the multimodal functionality of nutrients. In addition, we will discuss the academic and social significance of DX Nutrition, which promotes value transformation toward a natural capitalist society that values the global environment through the transformation of nutrition science by digital technology.

Bacteria, archaea and phages are known to possess alternative modes of DNA replication that operate under specific genetic backgrounds or environments. In response to varied environments or biological stresses, cells may alter the mode of DNA replication to maximize its adaptability. We would like to discuss modes of DNA replication that may operate under varied environments in various species and how they may contribute to cellular survival or mutagenesis and evolution, in some cases.

A microbial cell relies on a sophisticated system to generate genetically-identical, but phenotypically-heterologous cells in order to achieve sustainable cell proliferation. This workshop aims at addressing basic principles underlying microbial cell proliferation by combining conventional studies with the state-of-the-art technologies, expanding our insights into how ‘simple' organisms such as prokaryotes elaborate a complex system to establish life.

Transposable elements (TE) occupy nearly half of the genome, and play a role to regulate higher order nuclear structures by recruiting epigenetic factors. Such roles of TEs are defined here as the transposable element code (TEC). Interestingly, recent studies have shown that TE RNAs and the RNA-binding proteins that recignize those may induce liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). In this workshop, we will focus on the molecular complicity between TEC and LLPS.

The field of neuroscience has been revolutionized by the recent technological advances in genome editing, optogenetics, omics, and mathematical modeling. In this workshop, we invite early and mid-career researchers who use a variety of models from nematodes to human organoids to present their latest studies on developmental, behavioral, and evolutionary neurosciences and discuss the prospects of evolutionary and behavioral neurosciences.

Various hierarchical interactions such as intermolecular, organelle, cell-to-cell, and tissue-to-tissue interactions play an important role in the progression of diseases such as cancer, lifestyle-related diseases, and infectious diseases, but how biological information is exchanged within and between hierarchies remains unexplored. In this workshop, young researchers in different fields will gather to introduce the research field of life system dynamics, using state-of-the-art omics, imaging analysis and information analysis technologies. This workshop also provides an opportunity for new entrants.

The existential threat viruses pose to their hosts has been emphasized during the COVID pandemic. But is this a complete picture? A counterpoint comes from the observation that genetic material derived from viruses (called endogenous viral elements, EVEs) makes up a large part of many host genomes — viruses make hosts what they are, genetically. This workshop will discuss viruses' “contributions" to their hosts, EVEs, from evolutionary, virological/immunological, and cell biological perspectives.

Recent progress in single-cell analysis technologies has changed life science research entirely. Starting from comprehensive and quantitative measurement of molecular profiles at the single-cell resolution, single-cell research shows diversity, which includes spatial measurement of each element of DNA/RNA/protein, genome-editing-based molecular barcoding, intracellular molecular structure analysis based on cryo-electron microscopy, and single-cell response measurement using micro/nano-devices. This workshop will gather researchers who aim to deeply understand biological phenomena using cutting-edge single-cell technologies, and generate a new trend in single-cell research.

In the nucleus, biomolecular condensates, called nuclear bodies exist, reflecting the unique environment with highly dense macromolecules such as DNA, RNA, and proteins. Recent studies have revealed the connections between nuclear bodies and the epigenome. In this workshop, we will discuss the latest researches on how the condensates and epigenome act on chromatin potentials including gene expression regulation, in response to cellular stimuli under various environments.

Mitochondria are important organelles that play central roles in intracellular metabolism. For cells to be "normal", their mitochondria must be "normal". What are required for mitochondria to remain normal, and how do abnormalities in mitochondria affect cellular and biological functions? In this workshop, we would like to discuss the normal and abnormal state of mitochondria, with researchers from Japan and abroad providing us the latest topics.

Plants require two kinds of signals to undergo proper morphogenesis. One is chemical signals, such as plant hormones. The other is mechanical signals (or force signals), such as turgor pressure and gravity. In plant science, plant hormones have been intensively studied to uncover their action mechanisms and effects on plant physiology and development. In contrast, the study on mechanosensing and mechanoresponse has just started. In the workshop I intend to hold, I will invite world-class researchers of early- and mid-career professionals to talk about the mechanisms underlying mechanosensing, signal transduction within and/or between plant cells, and morphogenesis. I will request them a plain introduction with plain language and their appeal of the relevant field to attract young audience. Approximately half of the speakers will be female researchers.

Multicellular organisms have an autonomy to spontaneously construct tissues and organs and optimize their structures and functions on their own. However, the mechanisms of how cell populations and tissues optimize themselves have been largely unknown. Recently, it has been shown that various cooperative/competitive communications among cells play an important role in the self-optimization processes. In this workshop, we would like to introduce the latest findings on cell-cell communications that regulate the behaviors of multicellular systems and discuss the principles of how multicellular autonomy emerges.

There are more than 37,000 rare and undiagnosed disease patients in Japan, and confirmation of diagnosis and development of therapeutic methods are awaited. Although NGS analysis of each patient narrows down causative gene mutations, it is difficult to prove the causal relationship because of low frequencies. In recent years, efforts have been made to connect rare disease researchers and model animal researchers all over the world. It is expected that novel gene functions and biological mechanisms as well as pathological conditionswill be revealed. This workshop brings together the related researchers who are conducting human rare-disease or disease research using model animals, and discuss the fruitful collaboration between basic and clinical sciences and its future benefits.

All organisms in nature have their unique morphologies and sizes, and also differ from each other in their developmental rates and lifespans. Recent studies have revealed novel mechanisms of gene expression, protein stability and function, which are regulated by a species-specific manner.In this workshop, we will invite the researchers who use multiple model animals or species and compare the developmental systems using their own methodologies.

What determines speed of development, maturation, and aging? In this workshop, cutting-edge researchers who successfully manipulate 'time' for the organisms (e.g. life-time extension and forced hibernation of mice) will be gathered to tackle to the big question.

Epigenetic gene regulation is a broadly conserved system across animals and plants. On the other hand, recent studies using various model organisms and population genetics have supported species- and environment-specific epigenetic mechanisms. In this workshop, we will discuss “Robust and Flexible" epigenetics by introducing the latest research from molecular scale to ecologies and molecular evolution in plants.

Cells and intracellular organelles exhibit unique membrane structures suitable for their functions. Although the membrane is not able to shape by itself, the ordered assembly of the proteins is supposed to be essential for membrane shaping and biological functions at the membrane. Such assembly of proteins related to the membrane function includes those of cytoskeleton and their regulators by the multivalent interactions of a heterogenous population of proteins, as well as the polymerization of the homogenous proteins. Defective assemblies of proteins are involved in various diseases such as cancer and the development of congenital diseases. In this workshop, we will discuss the assembly of proteins and biomolecules for the membrane structure and function of the cells.

What molecular mechanisms are responsible for the cellular and bodily adaptations are seen in voluntary movements by human antigravity muscles? The self-assembling cytoskeleton, microtubules, and actin fibers are responsible for the beautifully structured mechanical and metabolic instability, and the adaptive interlocking of the micro (proteins) and macro (brain nervous system). In this workshop, we will focus on the mechanical stress adaptation mechanism of antigravity muscles and discuss the connection between molecules and body axis control.

While viral infection is a microscale phenomenon that occurs at the cellular level, viral epidemic is a macroscale phenomenon that occurs on a global scale. In recent years, it has been revealed that differences in microscale behavior of viruses can affect their macroscale behavior (e.g. epidemic, evolutionary dynamics, and its effects on ecological systems) in the real world. In this workshop, we would like to introduce fascinating topics that approach the principles of virus infection and epidemics in the real world from a variety of virus research, from environmental viruses to SARS-CoV2.

The protein kinase TOR is a command center that senses and integrates various conditions inside and outside the cell to oversee and control cellular metabolism. When nutrients are available, it promotes cell growth and proliferation with optimal solutions, while under stress, it in reversal ensures cell survival. In this workshop, we would like to comprehensively elucidate the regulation of TOR and the regulation by TOR from a multifaceted perspective and reveal the as-yet-unknown truth of TOR as the command center of the cell.

One of the major roles of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is to control the quality of newly synthesized proteins in a wide range of diverse conditions. This is achieved by proper functioning of ER chaperons and ER-associated degradation components, and by the tight regulation of ER environments, such as the redox environment and the Ca concentration. In this workshop, the speakers, mostly the researchers in the young generation, will discuss the robustness of ER system to the fluctuations, its underlying molecular mechanisms, the evolutionary adaptations, and the diseases caused by the catastrophe of ER system.

The essential metals such as zinc and iron play fundamental roles to regulate numbers of molecules, so that their abnormal homeostasis provides various damages in cells. On the other hand, cadmium and mercury are toxic agents, therefore cells must control them to avoid cellular impairments. In this workshop, we will discuss recent advances of metals from the viewpoints of physiology and toxicology, toward understanding their biological relevance in health and diseases.

In eukaryotic cells, long DNA strands form chromatin structure, and are functionally organized into the nucleus. Transcription is the first step of gene expression that dictates cellular phenotype. Since three nuclear RNA polymerases were identified in the 1960s, knowledge in transcription regulation has been accumulated. However, a question how transcription actually proceeds in chromatin remains to be addressed. We discuss the molecular and cellular mechanism of chromatin transcription based on the recent findings by cutting-edge technologies.

DNA replication has been a central subject since the dawn of molecular biology, and decades of research have identified replication origins and proteins in bacteria and yeasts. However, those behave more stochastically than anticipated, particularly in vertebrates with a large genome. A clear picture of how the genome is replicated depending on the nuclear environment has not been established. We focus on the flexible nature of DNA replication, which configures fidelity and fragility.

Our Grant-in-Aid Research Consortium “Genome Modality" aims to understand the structure and function of the genome through the study of nucleotide sequence information, DNA properties, and environmental factors surrounding them, from a multifaceted perspective. In this workshop, we would like to introduce the latest research findings mainly by the members who study chromatin structure and approach to the new aspect of the genome.

Recently, there is growing evidence that LLPS of proteins/RNA plays critical roles in the regulation of mesoscopic structures and functions in living cells. It has been well-known that lipid molecules in cell membranes also can phase separate, but how do various proteins and lipids that govern cellular responses cooperatively phase separate in and on cell membranes? In this workshop, we learn cutting-edge research on heterogeneous structures in and on cell membranes from a variety of perspectives ranging from physics, chemistry, and biology and discuss the future direction of LLPS studies in and on cell membranes.

Tissues do not develop alone in vivo, but are affected by the environments surrounding the cells. Thus, tissues could be shaped by mechanical interactions not only between cells, but also between cells and extracellular matrix. In this workshop, we focus on the physical properties originated from the cells' surroundings using various species and soft matters, and discuss the contributions of extracellular environments in tissue morphogenesis.

The cell nucleus is an organelle that ensures the function and continuity of life through gene expression and DNA replication. To understand the mechanism of its construction, reconstructive approaches are useful in addition to conventional reductive approaches. In this workshop, we focus on the reconstructive approaches to understand the architecture of the cell nucleus with emphases on quantitative and physicochemical viewpoints.

Chronic inflammation is a common pathological basis of noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiometabolic disease and cancer. Throughout the initiation, progression, and prolongation of chronic inflammation, dynamic epigenomic changes in immune cells, stromal cells, and parenchymal cells drive the inflammatory processes. The memory of inflammation is also inscribed in the epigenome in various cells. We would like to discuss how inflammation transforms the epigenome, and how epigenomic transformation controls and executes inflammatory processes to gain a picture of the interaction between inflammation and epigenetics.

There are a variety of particulate matter and chemicals floating in the air, including pollen, air pollutants, secondhand smoke from cigarettes, pets, dust mites, and fungi.These particles, invisible to the naked eye, have immunotoxic effects at the cellular level. This cytotoxicity also has systemic biological effects on the respiratory tract, allergic and immune diseases, cardiovascular system, reproduction, aging, and sensory organs. In this workshop, experts in various fields who can bridge the gap between basic research on the cellular level and clinical research on the systemic effects of atmospheric particles will hold open discussions from a scientific perspective.

The central dogma of molecular biology (replication, transcription, and translation) is at the heart of today's living systems. However, it is still elusive how the central dogma emerged on the ancient earth and evolved into the complex system seen today. In this workshop, we will discuss the origins and potential expansion of the central dogma by engineering its components and observing uniquely evolved organisms.

Numerous studies have identified many DNA repair genes and revealed the cross-species conservation of DNA damage repair pathways. While the molecular mechanism of the individual pathway is well defined, there are a few studies focusing on genetic interactions between repair pathways or understanding phenotypes of diseases deficient in DNA repair. In this workshop, we will invite a variety of talented young researchers from the fields of development, differentiation, and cancer research, in addition to research field of the fundamental processes of DNA damage repair, to deepen our understanding of DNA repair research in the context of organs and tissues.

Guanine ribose triphosphate (GTP), a component of nucleic acids, is the energy that drives protein synthesis and the cytoskeletal system. GTP has different physicochemical properties from ATP, and the amount of intracellular GTP compared to ATP varies greatly among tissues and is significantly increased in cancer. Previous studies have shown that life evolved by changing the energy use of GTP, and point to the potentially critical role in the resilience of life. The disruption of the GTP system has been linked to various pathological conditions such as cancer, metabolic diseases, infections, neurological diseases, and aging. The 6th GTP Workshop, co-organized with JST-CREST "Corona Foundation", will focus on the mechanism of disease caused by the dysregulation of GTP energy metabolism. We will share the latest findings on therapeutic strategies targeting GTP energy metabolism and discuss with participants with "Passion" for co-creating new disease therapies.

Genomic imprinting, the expression of monoallelic genes controlled by parent-origin epigenetic modifications, has attracted much attention as an excellent model of epigenetic inheritance. In recent years, new insights into the diverse molecular mechanisms of genomic imprinting and its role in the evolution and divergence of species, as well as its physiological roles, have been accumulated. In this workshop, we would like to introduce the latest findings on genome imprinting from animals to plants, and discuss the future prospects.

A decade has passed since the advent of Hi-C, a revolutionary genome-wide profiling method that can reveal the 3D genome organization. How are the genomic structural units such as TADs, A/B compartments, and chromatin loops identified by Hi-C regulated in different aspects of biosystem control? What types of abnormalities lead to diseases? In addition, how do they relate to transcriptional regulation and other epigenetic regulatory mechanisms? In this workshop, we will invite speakers who are actively working on these topics from various angles and provide a bird's eye view of the current status of the 4D nucleome research.

Communication between organelles via transfer of molecules is critical for cell physiology. Central to this process are mitochondria. In this workshop, speakers from Japan and abroad will discuss their research on the transfer of proteins, lipids, or membranes between mitochondria and other intracellular compartments. This workshop will cover the current state of mitochondrial research and hopes to inspire new avenues of exploration.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a national disorder because one out of eight adults in Japan has expected to have. More than three hundred thirty thousand patients need renal replacement therapy including hemodialysis in Japan. However, breakthrough of therapy for CKD has not been established because various kinds of cells in the kidney organize complicated networks in the kidney and it is difficult to clarify their mechanisms. Japanese Society of Nephrology has undertaken the task of finding the kidney disease processes and clarifying the pathological features of kidney diseases committedly. In this workshop, the latest findings of basic science research will be introduced by mainly young investigators of renal experts. We can expect that novel insights into developing the molecular mechanisms of kidney disease with cellular complexities will show the possibilities of clarifying new applications in other fields of science.

In recent years, molecular vibrational imaging such as Raman imaging has been attracting attention as an imaging modality that can provide characteristic information. In this workshop, researchers who are engaged in the development of molecular vibrational imaging technology in the fields of chemistry and optics will introduce their latest research, and discuss its future prospect.

This workshop will present recent progress in developing optogenetic and optochemical tools for the spatiotemporal control of biological processes ranging from protein dynamics to cellar physiology. The optochemogenetic tools used for this purpose have recently undergone remarkable improvements through rational molecular design. By contrasting optogenetics and optochemicals, the advantages and disadvantages of each method and issues to be resolved will be clarified, and the potential applications will be discussed.

Ribosome collision induced by ribosome stalling during protein synthesis results in the production of abnormal polypeptides. RQC (ribosome-associated quality control) recognizes collided ribosomes and eliminates abnormal proteins to maintain protein homeostasis. Ribosome collision formed by various stresses induces apoptosis and innate immune response by interacting with MAP kinase and innate immunity. In this workshop, we will introduce recent progress on the molecular mechanism and physiological function of RQC, including the molecular mechanism of the onset of psychiatric disorders.

Tissues and cells suffer various types of mechanical stimuli in our bodies, and their responses to the mechanical stimuli play pivotal roles in their functions. In this workshop, we share cutting-edge studies for physiological roles and molecular bases of mechano-sensing, and development of novel tools for quantification of mechanical stimuli on cells/tissues. We further discuss functions of mechano-sensing in the brain development and neural network formation.

In vertebrate, luminal structure of blood vessels is consisted by vascular endothelial cells and perivascular cells and are considered the largest organ in the body. It is because that blood vessels in humans are estimated in the total length as long as 2.5 times of the circumference of the earth, and the area is equivalent to 27 tennis courts. However, the significance of perivascular cells (e.g. pericytes or perivascular fibroblasts) has not been fully elucidated. In this workshop, we will provide an overview of cutting-edge research regarding cellular types of perivascular cells, organ specificities, and regulatory mechanisms and pathogenesis in blood vessels for a wide range of participants and will have discussion deeply with them.

Sexual reproduction accompanies specific changes in chromosome, chromatin, and nuclear dynamics over broad range of species. In this symposium, we will discuss chromosome/chromatin/nuclear dynamics from different aspects of sexual reproduction, such as germ cell differentiation, meiosis, sex determination, and fertilization.

Studies on aging and death have been centered around passive mechanisms. However, the active genetic mechanisms should also contribute to the variation of aging and organismal lifespan in different species. In this workshop, we would like to discuss the similarities and differences between neuronal aging and organismal lifespan to understand the nature of their mechanisms.

The information provided by sequencing technology can tell us about different types of molecular interactions in the cells. Today, a variety of methods for analyzing DNA/RNA sequences are being used to solve biological problems. In this workshop, we will focus on non-coding regions and discuss the methods and biological significance of observing the behavior of molecules in the cells as indicated by the interactions taught by sequence and quantitative information.

Organisms are constantly exposed to environmental stresses such as low oxygen, low/high temperature or low nutrients. These stresses induce cellular stress responses to maintain homeostasis. In some cases, cells utilize such stress response mechanism to regulate their physiological state. In this workshop, we aim to understand the cellular stress response mechanisms comprehensively by analyzing the cellular strategies in various gene expression steps.

Development and homeostasis in animals are tightly regulated by inter-cellular and inter-organ communications mediated by multiple humoral factors. After the discovery of insulin a hundred years ago, numerous hormones or cytokines that respond to the nutritional status have been, and are still being, identified. In this workshop, we would like to discuss how these "Tobi-dogu" regulated by feeding and/or nutrition maintain organ and systemic homeostasis, based on the latest research using advanced gene-editing techniques and omics analysis.

Recently, many Oligonucleotide drugs have been approved for intractable diseases, and new types are also on the preclinical tests. The molecular biological mechanism includes RNA/DNA editing, modulation of RNA protein interaction, RNA structure, RNA intracellular trafficking. This workshop covers recent advantages for the intracellular molecular mechanism of Oligonucleotide drugs and future directions.

Sugar chains bind to proteins and lipids, and most of them are expressed on the cell surface, playing important roles in ontogeny, immunity, neuronal development and fertilization. Thus, the defects in its biosynthesis or degradation cause various diseases. Recently, causes of hereditary intractable and rare diseases related to glycans is being elucidated. In this workshop, we pick up these diseases and will hold the extensive discussions from the basic research to diagnosis and treatment of these disorders.

Various systemic disorders are triggered when the symbiotic balance between gut microbiota and host is disrupted. Therefore, the development of gut design technology is expected. To manipulate those, it is essential to understand the function of the gut microbes themselves. In this workshop, we will have presentations by a wide range of up-coming researchers covering the field from manipulating difficult-to-culture microbes which has long been a specialty of Japan, to the state-of-art technologies such as trans-omics analysis. Finally, we want to discuss with all of you how to design the gut-ecosystem.

Entomology includes from molecular to ecology level research, and interesting and attractive results, which reflect the diversity of insects, are reported. Japanese Entomology has been developed uniquely and attracts attention from scientists in foreign countries because of the synergy effects of discussions of these different scale researches. In this workshop, young researchers performing “various level" research in Entomology will present and, unique discussion by researchers performing these various levels of entomological research will be expected. Because of it, our workshop will encourage to start new research themes containing unique and multi-scale methods and viewpoints

Biomembranes have a complex supermolecular bilayer structure composed of diverse biomolecules such as lipids, proteins, and sugars. Instead of stimulating cells with ligands for membrane receptors, alternative approaches are possible to artificially perturb function of biomembranes by e.g., changing their shape, permeability, and domain structures. New and unique approaches for controlling cell functions using hybrid/designed molecules, model membranes, and chemistry on/in cells, and for detection methods of biophysical communications using imaging and mass spectrometry will be introduced and discussed.

The bacterial surface has multi states to flexibly respond to various external factors. In this session, we would like to introduce bacterial and mitochondrial surface manipulation by the molecular biology technique and observation of them by the biophysical approaches. We would like to develop the research field of bacterial and organelle surface through the mashup of all discussions.

To obtain a rational understanding of life systems, approaches combining theories and experiments are indispensable. In particular, quantitative biology has made great achievements due to progress in measurement technology in biophysics. On the other hand, in the history of molecular biology, it is also a fact that the understanding of the presence/absence of interactions between biomolecules, that is, qualitative understanding, has functioned effectively. For the success of theoretical predictions and experimental verification, either quantitative or qualitative analyses may be effective depending on the nature of the focal systems. In this workshop, we invite theoretical and experimental researchers who made advancing research developments by characteristic quantitative or qualitative analyses. We contrast the two approaches and discuss the direction in which these two will develop complementarily.

At the recent Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan, we noticed that the number of subjects related to microorganisms (prokaryotes) is decreasing. One of the reasons may be due to various molecular biological approaches that have become possible in eukaryotes, especially higher vertebrates. However, cutting-edge molecular biology for microorganisms is considered to have entered a new stage with the development of genomics, systems biology, and synthetic biology. In this workshop, we would like to discuss molecular microbiology in the 21st century.

Translation on ribosomes has been studied for a long time in a wide range of fields. In recent years, with the development of analytical methods, attention has been paid not only to translational control, but also to ribosome-mediated biological phenomena such as stress response, organelle environmental changes, and diseases. In this workshop, we would like to have young researchers from different fields introduce and discuss the frontiers of ribosome-focused research.

RNA and RBP drive the phase separation (ps) via their IDR. The ps forms the microcosm of basic life events forming non-membrane organelle and transcription. The law of the ps is not be explained by previous concept of sequence specificity (ss) of nucleic acids and proteins. Then, we organize a workshop with folks working on events from elucidation of the ps to the clinics using life systems from plant to human. We will discuss them, and get life principles beyond the ss.

Blood vessels deliver oxygens and nutrients to all cells in the body. However, recent studies have revealed that they are not just “blood-carrying tubes" but also regulate formation, regeneration, and homeostasis of biological tissues by producing angiocrine factors and exerting their functions. Blood vessels are also associated with certain pathological conditions such as cancer and fibrosis. In this workshop, scientists promoting pioneering research on new functions of blood vessels will introduce the latest findings, and will discuss future direction for vascular biology research.

It is proteins that drive biochemical events of life. Thanks to the development of machine learning such as AlphaFold2, the time has finally come to reveal relationship between protein structure and function on a proteome-wide scale. In this workshop, we will discuss the proteome-wide protein structure (structurome) from the viewpoint of omics and protein structure.

In this workshop, we would like to follow the diversity of organisms from the viewpoint of single molecule, species, and ecology with the keyword of environmental change. We are planning to cover a wide variety of organisms, from mice to microorganisms, and we would like to understand biodiversity within the broad framework of molecular biology rather than in a specific research field.Moreover, we are planning to have a session with a young women researcher as the main presenter to serve as a role model for women students who want to become researchers. including undergraduate, graduate students.

Notch signaling is broadly conserved in multicellular organisms and determines many cell fates. The regulation of cell differentiation by Notch signaling is tightly controlled spatiotemporally and its defects cause sometimes serious human diseases such as cancer or neurodegeneration. In this workshop, we would like to discuss about the various roles of Notch signaling in the morphogenesis.