Details of a Researcher - Soga, Tomoyoshi

Papers - Soga, Tomoyoshi

Division display 301 - 320 of about 425 ／ All the affair displays >>

A medium-chain fatty acid as an alternative energy source in mouse preimplantation development

Yamada, M., Takanashi, K., *Hamatani, T., Hirayama, A., Akutsu, H., Fukunaga, T. Ogawa, S., Sugawara, K., Shinoda, K., Soga, T., Umezawa, A., Kuji, N., Yoshimura ,Y. and Tomita, M.

Sci. Rep. 2 930 2012.12

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

To further optimize the culturing of preimplantation embryos, we undertook metabolomic analysis of relevant culture media using capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CE-TOFMS). We detected 28 metabolites: 23 embryo-excreted metabolites including 16 amino acids and 5 media-derived metabolites (e.g., octanoate, a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA)). Due to the lack of information on MCFAs in mammalian preimplantation development, this study examined octanoate as a potential alternative energy source for preimplantation embryo cultures. No embryos survived in culture media lacking FAs, pyruvate, and glucose, but supplementation of octanoate rescued the embryonic development. Immunoblotting showed significant expression of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, important enzymes for ß-oxidation of MCFAs, in preimplantation embryo. Furthermore, CE-TOFMS traced [1-(13)C(8)] octanoate added to the culture media into intermediate metabolites of the TCA cycle via ß-oxidation in mitochondria. These results are the first demonstration that octanoate could provide an efficient alternative energy source throughout preimplantation development.

Access to Document (DOI)

Metabolic profiling reveals new serum biomarkers for differentiating diabetic nephropathy

Hirayama, A., Nakashima, E., Sugimoto, M., Akiyama, S., Sato, W., Maruayama, S., Matsuo, S., Tomita, M., Yuzawa, Y., Soga, T.

Anal Bioanal Chem. 404 ( 10 ) 3101 - 3109 2012.12

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

Capillary electrophoresis coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to explore new serum biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity for diabetic nephropathy (DN) diagnosis, through comprehensive analysis of serum metabolites with 78 diabetic patients. Multivariate analyses were used for identification of marker candidates and development of discriminative models. Of the 289 profiled metabolites, orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis identified 19 metabolites that could distinguish between DN with macroalbuminuria and diabetic patients without albuminuria. These identified metabolites included creatinine, aspartic acid, γ-butyrobetaine, citrulline, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), kynurenine, azelaic acid, and galactaric acid. Significant correlations between all these metabolites and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratios (p < 0.009, Spearman’s rank test) were observed. When five metabolites (including γ-butyrobetaine, SDMA, azelaic acid and two unknowns) were selected from 19 metabolites and applied for multiple logistic regression model, AUC value for diagnosing DN was 0.927 using the whole dataset, and 0.880 in a cross-validation test. In addition, when four known metabolites (aspartic acid, SDMA, azelaic acid and galactaric acid) were applied, the resulting AUC was still high at 0.844 with the whole dataset and 0.792 with cross-validation. Combination of serum metabolomics with multivariate analyses enabled accurate discrimination of DN patients. The results suggest that capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry based metabolome analysis could be used for DN diagnosis.

Access to Document (DOI)

Glycogen is the primary source of glucose during the lag phase of E. coli proliferation

Yamamotoya, T., Dose, H., Tian, Z., Fauré, A., Toya, Y., Honma, M., Igarashi, K., Nakahigashi, K., Soga, T., Mori, H., Matsuno, H.

Biochim Biophys Acta 1824 ( 12 ) 1142 - 1148 2012.12

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

In the studies of Escherichia coli (E. coli), metabolomics analyses have mainly been performed using steady state culture. However, to analyze the dynamic changes in cellular metabolism, we performed a profiling of concentration of metabolites by using batch culture. As a first step, we focused on glucose uptake and the behavior of the first metabolite, G6P (glucose-6-phosphate). A computational formula was derived to express the glucose uptake rate by a single cell from two kinds of experimental data, extracellular glucose concentration and cell growth, being simulated by Cell Illustrator. In addition, average concentration of G6P has been measured by CE-MS. The existence of another carbon source was suggested from the computational result. After careful comparison between cell growth, G6P concentration, and the computationally obtained curve of glucose uptake rate, we predicted the consumption of glycogen in lag phase and its accumulation as an energy source in an E. coli cell for the next proliferation. We confirmed our prediction experimentally. This behavior indicates the importance of glycogen participation in the lag phase for the growth of E. coli. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Computational Methods for Protein Interaction and Structural Prediction

Access to Document (DOI)

Analysis of liver metabolism in a rat model of heart failure

Kato, T., Niizuma, S., Inuzuka, Y., Kawashima, T., Okuda, J., Kawamoto, A., Tamai, Y., Iwanaga, Y., Soga, T., Kita, T., Kimura, T., Shioi, T.

Int. J. Cardiol. 161 ( 3 ) 130 - 136 2012.11

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

Background: Cachexia, namely body wasting, is a common complication in cases of congestive heart failure (CHF). Although, neurohumoral and immune abnormalities are associated with the condition, precisely how the imbalance of catabolism and anabolism is responsible for the wasting process is not known.
Methods: We analyzed markers of cachexia in Dahl salt-sensitive rats which show marked hypertension with preserved systolic function at 11 weeks and CHF at 17-19 weeks of age. We also analyzed the change in hepatic metabolism associated with CHF since liver plays a central role in the systemic regulation of catabolism and anabolism.
Results: In CHF rats, a failure to grow was observed and blood hepatic protein levels were decreased associated with increased blood proinflammatory cytokine levels, indicating that Dahl rats serve as a model of cardiac cachexia. Food intake was reduced, and blood sugar and insulin levels were decreased. Despite the apparent fasting condition, blood fatty acid levels were decreased and triglycerides levels were increased. In CHF rats, liver incorporated more glucose, the gene expression related to gluconeogenesis was decreased, the gene expression related to lipogenesis was increased, and the triglyceride content of the liver was increased. The paradoxical production of triglycerides synthesis in fasting rats was associated with a proinflammatory response in liver.
Conclusions: The Dahl salt-sensitive rat can be used as a model of cardiac cachexia. The cachexia was associated with abnormal hepatic metabolism that might work as a maladaptive response during the progression of CHF.

Access to Document (DOI)

A Metabolomic Approach to Clarifying the Effect of AST-120 on 5/6 Nephrectomized Rats by Capillary Electrophoresis with Mass Spectrometry (CE-MS)

Akiyama, Y., Takeuchi, Y., Kikuchi, K., Mishima, E., Yamamoto, Y., Suzuki, C., Toyohara, T., Suzuki, T., Hozawa, A., Ito, S., Soga, T., Abe, T.

Toxins 4 ( 11 ) 1309-1322 2012.11

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

The oral adsorbent AST-120 is composed of spherical carbon particles and has an adsorption ability for certain small-molecular-weight compounds that accumulate in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). So far, very few compounds are known to be adsorbed by AST-120 in vivo. To examine the effect of AST-120 in vivo, we comprehensively evaluated the plasma concentrations of 146 compounds (61 anions and 85 cations) in CKD model rats, with or without four weeks of treatment with AST-120. By capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometry, we identified 6 anions and 17 cations that were significantly decreased by AST-120 treatment. In contrast, we also identified 2 cations that were significantly increased by AST-120. Among them, 4 anions, apart from indoxyl sulfate and hippurate, and 19 cations were newly identified in this study. The plasma levels of N-acetyl-neuraminate, 4-pyridoxate, 4-oxopentanoate, glycine, γ-guanidinobutyrate, N-γ-ethylglutamine, allantoin, cytosine, 5-methylcytosine and imidazole-4-acetate were significantly increased in the CKD model compared with the sham-operated group, and were significantly decreased by AST-120 treatment. Therefore, these 10 compounds could be added as uremic compounds that indicate the effect of AST-120 treatment. This study provides useful information not only for identifying the indicators of AST-120, but also for clarifying changes in the metabolic profile by AST-120 treatment in the clinical setting. View

Access to Document (DOI)

Sheathless capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry with a high-sensitivity porous sprayer for cationic metabolome analysis

Hirayama, A., Tomita, M., Soga, T.

Analyst 137 ( 21 ) 5026 - 5033 2012.11

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

Sheath-flow capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) has emerged as a new tool for comprehensive analysis of charged metabolites. However, it needs to be more sensitive. Here, we report a sheathless capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry method for cationic metabolome analysis. This system used a high-sensitivity porous sprayer interface and 10% (v/v) acetic acid as the background electrolyte (BGE). Under optimized conditions, 53 cationic metabolites, including amino acids and their derivatives, amines, nucleic acids and small peptides, were successfully separated and selectively detected with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. At a signal-to-noise ratio of three, the concentration detection limits for these compounds were between 0.004 and 0.8 μmol L(-1) (amount detection limit, 0.01 to 2 fmol) with pressure injection at 20.7 kPa for 5 s (2.6 nL). Compared with conventional sheath-flow CE-MS, the detection limit of the present method was increased more than 5-fold for 21 (40%) of the compounds detected. When the method was applied to the analysis of cationic metabolites obtained from human urine, there was a 10-fold increase in the number of detected peaks compared with conventional methods. More than 180 successive runs could be conducted without any problems, and only the BGE needed to be changed.

Access to Document (DOI)

Pilot Study of Changes in Salivary Metabolic Profiles Induced by Template Therapy

Tanaka, S., Taga, H., Maehara, K., *Kaneshima, A., Machino, M., Onuma, H., Kaneko, M., Sakagami, H., Sugimoto, M., Soga, T. and Tomita, M.

In Vivo 26 ( 6 ) 1015 - 1020 2012.11

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

Background: Occlusal raising method (so-called 'Template therapy') has been reported to alleviate various diseases and symptoms, but the underlying mechanism is not clear. We searched the low-molecular weight metabolite(s) in the saliva, the concentration of which is significantly changed by the template therapy.
Materials and methods: One female patient with headache underwent the template therapy for 12 days, and her total saliva was subjected to non-targeted analysis using capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CE-TOF-MS).
Results: One hundred and thirteen substances were identified in the saliva. Glycine was the most abundant amino acid in the saliva, followed by alanine, serine and proline. After the start of the template therapy, her headache was alleviated, accompanied by a significant (p=0.042) increase of salivary concentration of glycine, as compared with total amino acids whereas that of other amino acids was not significantly changed. In the metabolomics profile, salivary concentration of large number of metabolites as compared with total metabolite concentration decreased, including N-acetylneuraminate (p=0.025) and p-hydroxyphenylacetate (p=0.039).
Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrated, to our knowledge for the first time, that only glycine exhibited unique changes among total metabolites, suggesting its significant role in template therapy.

Metabolomic Profiling Rationalized Pyruvate Efficacy in Cybrid Cells Harboring MELAS Mitochondrial DNA Mutations

Kami, K., Fujita, Y., Igarashi, S., Koike, S., Sugawara, S., Ikeda, S., Sato, N., Ito, M., Tanaka, M., Tomita, M., Soga, T.

Mitochondrion 12 ( 6 ) 644 - 653 2012.11

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

Pyruvate treatment was found to alleviate clinical symptoms of mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome and is highly promising therapeutic. Using capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CE-TOFMS), we measured time-changes of 161 intracellular and 85 medium metabolites to elucidate metabolic effects of pyruvate treatment on cybrid human 143B osteosarcoma cells harboring normal (2SA) and MELAS mutant (2SD) mitochondria. The results demonstrated dramatic and sustainable effects of pyruvate administration on the energy metabolism of 2SD cells, corroborating pyruvate as a metabolically rational treatment regimen for improving symptoms associated with MELAS and possibly other mitochondrial diseases.

Access to Document (DOI)

In vivo role of aldehyde reductase

Takahashi, M., Miyata, S., Fujii, J., Inai, Y., Ueyama, S., Araki, M., Soga, T., Fujinawa, R., Nishitani C., Ariki S., Shimizu T., Abe T., Ihara Y., Nishikimi, M., Kozutsumi Y., Taniguchi N., and Kuroki, Y.

Biochim. biophys. Acta 1820 ( 11 ) 1787 - 1796 2012.11

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

Background: Aldehyde reductase (AKR1A; EC 1.1.1.2) catalyzes the reduction of various types of aldehydes. To ascertain the physiological role of AKR1A, we examined AKR1A knockout mice.
Methods: Ascorbic acid concentrations in AKR1A knockout mice tissues were examined, and the effects of human AKR1A transgene were analyzed. We purified AKR1A and studied the activities of glucuronate reductase and glucuronolactone reductase, which are involved in ascorbic acid biosynthesis. Metabolomic analysis and DNA microarray analysis were performed for a comprehensive study of AKR1A knockout mice.
Results: The levels of ascorbic acid in tissues of AKR1A knockout mice were significantly decreased which were completely restored by human AKR1A transgene. The activities of glucuronate reductase and glucuronolactone reductase, which are involved in ascorbic acid biosynthesis, were suppressed in AKR1A knockout mice. The accumulation of d-glucuronic acid and saccharate in knockout mice tissue and the expression of acute-phase proteins such as serum amyloid A2 are significantly increased in knockout mice liver.
Conclusions: AKR1A plays a predominant role in the reduction of both d-glucuronic acid and d-glucurono-γ-lactone in vivo. The knockout of AKR1A in mice results in accumulation of d-glucuronic acid and saccharate as well as a deficiency of ascorbic acid, and also leads to upregulation of acute phase proteins.
General significance: AKR1A is a major enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of d-glucuronic acid and d-glucurono-γ-lactone in vivo, besides acting as an aldehyde-detoxification enzyme. Suppression of AKR1A by inhibitors, which are used to prevent diabetic complications, may lead to the accumulation of d-glucuronic acid and saccharate.

Access to Document (DOI)

Mitochondrial dysfunction associated with increased oxidative stress and α-synuclein accumulation in PARK2 iPSC-derived neurons and postmortem brain tissue

Imaizumi, Y., Okada, Y., Akamatsu, W., Koike, M., Kuzumaki, N., Hayakawa, H., Nihira, T., Kobayashi, T., Ohyama, M., ,Sato, S., Takanashi, M., Funayama, M., Hirayama, A., Soga, T., Hishiki, T., Suematsu, M., Yagi, T., Ito, D., Kosakai, A., Hayashi, K., Shouji, M., Nakanishi, A., Suzuki, N., Mizuno, Y., Mizushima, N., Amagai, M., Uchiyama, Y., Mochizuki, H., Hattori, N., Okano H.

Mol Brain. 5 35 2012.10

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). The familial form of PD, PARK2, is caused by mutations in the parkin gene. parkin-knockout mouse models show some abnormalities, but they do not fully recapitulate the pathophysiology of human PARK2.
Results: Here, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from two PARK2 patients. PARK2 iPSC-derived neurons showed increased oxidative stress and enhanced activity of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. iPSC-derived neurons, but not fibroblasts or iPSCs, exhibited abnormal mitochondrial morphology and impaired mitochondrial homeostasis. Although PARK2 patients rarely exhibit Lewy body (LB) formation with an accumulation of α-synuclein, α-synuclein accumulation was observed in the postmortem brain of one of the donor patients. This accumulation was also seen in the iPSC-derived neurons in the same patient.
Conclusions: Thus, pathogenic changes in the brain of a PARK2 patient were recapitulated using iPSC technology. These novel findings reveal mechanistic insights into the onset of PARK2 and identify novel targets for drug screening and potential modified therapies for PD.

Access to Document (DOI)

Dramatic Increase in Glycerol Biosynthesis upon Oxidative Stress in the Anaerobic Protozoan Parasite Entamoeba histolytica

Husain, A., Sato, D., Jeelani, G., Soga, T., Nozaki, T.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 6 ( 9 ) e1831 2012.09

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

Entamoeba histolytica, a microaerophilic enteric protozoan parasite, causes amebic colitis and extra intestinal abscesses in millions of inhabitants of endemic areas. Trophozoites of E. histolytica are exposed to a variety of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species during infection. Since E. histolytica lacks key components of canonical eukaryotic anti-oxidative defense systems, such as catalase and glutathione system, alternative not-yet-identified anti-oxidative defense strategies have been postulated to be operating in E. histolytica. In the present study, we investigated global metabolic responses in E. histolytica in response to H(2)O(2)- and paraquat-mediated oxidative stress by measuring charged metabolites on capillary electrophoresis and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. We found that oxidative stress caused drastic modulation of metabolites involved in glycolysis, chitin biosynthesis, and nucleotide and amino acid metabolism. Oxidative stress resulted in the inhibition of glycolysis as a result of inactivation of several key enzymes, leading to the redirection of metabolic flux towards glycerol production, chitin biosynthesis, and the non-oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway. As a result of the repression of glycolysis as evidenced by the accumulation of glycolytic intermediates upstream of pyruvate, and reduced ethanol production, the levels of nucleoside triphosphates were decreased. We also showed for the first time the presence of functional glycerol biosynthetic pathway in E. histolytica as demonstrated by the increased production of glycerol 3-phosphate and glycerol upon oxidative stress. We proposed the significance of the glycerol biosynthetic pathway as a metabolic anti-oxidative defense system in E. histolytica.

Access to Document (DOI)

Human blood metabolite timetable indicates internal body time

Kasukawa, T., Sugimoto, M., Hida, A., Minami, Y., Mori, M., Honma, S., Honma, K., Mishima, K., Soga, T., Ueda, H.R.

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 109 ( 37 ) 15036 - 15041 2012.09

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

A convenient way to estimate internal body time (BT) is essential for chronotherapy and time-restricted feeding, both of which use body-time information to maximize potency and minimize toxicity during drug administration and feeding, respectively. Previously, we proposed a molecular timetable based on circadian-oscillating substances in multiple mouse organs or blood to estimate internal body time from samples taken at only a few time points. Here we applied this molecular-timetable concept to estimate and evaluate internal body time in humans. We constructed a 1.5-d reference timetable of oscillating metabolites in human blood samples with 2-h sampling frequency while simultaneously controlling for the confounding effects of activity level, light, temperature, sleep, and food intake. By using this metabolite timetable as a reference, we accurately determined internal body time within 3 h from just two anti-phase blood samples. Our minimally invasive, molecular-timetable method with human blood enables highly optimized and personalized medicine.

L-Carnitine Prevents the Development of Ventricular Fibrosis and Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction in Hypertensive Heart Disease

Omori, Y., Ohtani, T., Sakata, Y., Mano, T., Takeda, Y., Tamaki, S., Tsukamoto. Y.,　Kamimura, D., Aizawa, Y., Miwa, T., Komuro, I., Soga, T., Yamamoto, K.

J. Hypertens. 30 ( 9 ) 1834 - 1844 2012.09

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

Objectives: Prognosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains poor because of unknown pathophysiology and unestablished therapeutic strategy. This study aimed to identify a potential therapeutic intervention for HFpEF through metabolomics-based analysis.
Methods and results: Metabolomics with capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry was performed using plasma of Dahl salt-sensitive rats fed high-salt diet, a model of hypertensive HFpEF, and showed decreased free-carnitine levels. Reassessment with enzymatic cycling method revealed the decreased plasma and left-ventricular free-carnitine levels in the HFpEF model. Urinary free-carnitine excretion was increased, and the expression of organic cation/carnitine transporter 2, which transports free-carnitine into cells, was down-regulated in the left ventricle (LV) and kidney in the HFpEF model. L-Carnitine was administered to the hypertensive HFpEF model. L-Carnitine treatment restored left-ventricular free-carnitine levels, attenuated left-ventricular fibrosis and stiffening, prevented pulmonary congestion, and improved survival in the HFpEF model independent of the antihypertensive effects, accompanied with increased expression of fatty acid desaturase (FADS) 1/2, rate-limiting enzymes in forming arachidonic acid, and enhanced production of arachidonic acid, a precursor of prostacyclin, and prostacyclin in the LV. In cultured cardiac fibroblasts, L-carnitine attenuated the angiotensin II-induced collagen production with increased FADS1/2 expression and enhanced production of arachidonic acid and prostacyclin. L-Carnitine-induced increase of arachidonic acid was canceled by knock-down of FADS1 or FADS2 in cultured cardiac fibroblasts. Serum free-carnitine levels were decreased in HFpEF patients.
Conclusions: L-carnitine supplementation attenuates cardiac fibrosis by increasing prostacyclin production through arachidonic acid pathway, and may be a promising therapeutic option for HFpEF

Access to Document (DOI)

A Yeast Metabolite Extraction Protocol Optimised for Time-Series Analyses

Sasidharan , K., Soga, T., Tomita, M., Murray, D.B.

PLoS One 7 ( 8 ) e44283 2012.08

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

There is an increasing call for the absolute quantification of time-resolved metabolite data. However, a number of technical issues exist, such as metabolites being modified/degraded either chemically or enzymatically during the extraction process. Additionally, capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry (CE-MS) is incompatible with high salt concentrations often used in extraction protocols. In microbial systems, metabolite yield is influenced by the extraction protocol used and the cell disruption rate. Here we present a method that rapidly quenches metabolism using dry-ice ethanol bath and methanol N-ethylmaleimide solution (thus stabilising thiols), disrupts cells efficiently using bead-beating and avoids artefacts created by live-cell pelleting. Rapid sample processing minimised metabolite leaching. Cell weight, number and size distribution was used to calculate metabolites to an attomol/cell level. We apply this method to samples obtained from the respiratory oscillation that occurs when yeast are grown continuously.

Access to Document (DOI)

Self-enhancement of hepatitis C virus replication by promotion of specific sphingolipid biosynthesis

Hirata, Y., Ikeda, K., Sudoh, M., Tokunaga, Y., Suzuki, A., Weng, L., Ohta, M., Tobita, Y., Okano, K., Ozeki, K., Kawasaki, K., Tsukuda, T., Katsume, A., Aoki, Y., Umehara, T., Sekiguchi, S., Toyoda, T., Shimotohno, K., Soga, T., Nishijima, M., Taguchi, R., Kohara, M.

PLoS Pathog. 8 ( 8 ) e1002860 2012.08

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

Lipids are key components in the viral life cycle that affect host-pathogen interactions. In this study, we investigated the effect of HCV infection on sphingolipid metabolism, especially on endogenous SM levels, and the relationship between HCV replication and endogenous SM molecular species. We demonstrated that HCV induces the expression of the genes (SGMS1 and 2) encoding human SM synthases 1 and 2. We observed associated increases of both total and individual sphingolipid molecular species, as assessed in human hepatocytes and in the detergent-resistant membrane (DRM) fraction in which HCV replicates. SGMS1 expression had a correlation with HCV replication. Inhibition of sphingolipid biosynthesis with a hepatotropic serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) inhibitor, NA808, suppressed HCV-RNA production while also interfering with sphingolipid metabolism. Further, we identified the SM molecular species that comprise the DRM fraction and demonstrated that these endogenous SM species interacted with HCV nonstructural 5B polymerase to enhance viral replication. Our results reveal that HCV alters sphingolipid metabolism to promote viral replication, providing new insights into the formation of the HCV replication complex and the involvement of host lipids in the HCV life cycle.

Access to Document (DOI)

Non-targeted metabolite profiling in activated macrophage secretion

Sugimoto, M., Sakagami, H., Yokote, Y., Onuma, H., Kaneko, M., Mori, M., Sakaguchi, Y., Soga, T., Tomita, M.

Metabolomics 8 ( 4 ) 624 - 633 2012.08

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

Periodontal diseases are inflammatory infectious diseases that affect the periodontal tissue. Macrophages play a central role in inflammatory conditions, leading to the destruction of tissues. Identifying the signaling molecules secreted by macrophages would be valuable to the study of these diseases. Here, we present non-targeted analysis using capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CE-TOFMS) for the profiling of extracellular metabolites released during macrophage activation. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of a mouse macrophage-like cell line RAW264.7 was used as a model system. Cells were treated without (control) or with LPS for 22 h and, after washing, were incubated for 1 h in phosphate-buffered saline. The accumulation of metabolites in the culture supernatant was monitored. LPS treatment significantly enhanced the accumulation of prostaglandins, tumor necrosis factor-α, nitric oxide and citrulline in the culture medium. RAW264.7 cells produced 46 metabolites and 66% of these showed significant changes (P < 0.05) following cell activation. In particular, the production of leucine, hypoxanthine, choline, putrecine, N 8-acetylspermidine, succinate, itaconate, and 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate was significantly increased by cell activation (P < 0.001). Significantly elevated production of lactate and glycine was also observed. Here, we present the first catalog of the up and down-regulation of the various metabolites secreted by macrophages following inflammatory activation.

Access to Document (DOI)

The emerging role of fumarate as an oncometabolite

Yang, M., Soga, T., Pollard, P.J., Adam, J.

Front. Oncol. 2 85 2012.07

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

The drive to understand how altered cellular metabolism and cancer are linked has caused a paradigm shift in the focus of cancer research. The discovery of a mutated metabolic enzyme, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1, that leads to accumulation of the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate, provided significant direct evidence that dysfunctional metabolism plays an important role in oncogenesis. Striking parallels exist with the Krebs cycle enzyme fumarate hydratase (FH), a tumor suppressor, whose mutation is associated with the development of leiomyomata, renal cysts, and tumors. Loss of FH enzymatic activity results in accumulation of intracellular fumarate which has been proposed to act as a competitive inhibitor of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenases including the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) hydroxylases, thus activating oncogenic HIF pathways. Interestingly, our studies have questioned the role of HIF and have highlighted other candidate mechanisms, in particular the non-enzymatic modification of cysteine residues (succination) that could lead to disruption or loss of protein functions, dysfunctional cell metabolism and cell signaling. Here, we discuss the evidence for proposing fumarate as an onco-metabolite.

Access to Document (DOI)

Clarification as to why alcoholic beverages have the ability to induce superconductivity in Fe1+dTe1−xSx

Deguchi, K., Sato, D., Sugimoto, M., Hara, H., Kawasaki, Y., Demura, S., Watanabe, T., Denholme, S. J., Okazaki, H., Ozaki, T., Yamaguchi, T., Takeya, H., Soga, T., Tomita, M., Takano, Y.

Supercond. Sci. Technol. 25 ( 8 ) 084025 2012.07

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

Access to Document (DOI)

mTORC1 is Essential for Leukemia propagation but Not Stem Cell Self- renewl

Hoshi, T., Tadokoro, Y., Naka, K., Ooshio, T., Muraguchi, T., Sugiyama, N., Soga, T., Araki, K., Yamamura, K., Hirao, A.

J. Clin. Invest. 122 ( 6 ) 2114 - 2129 2012.06

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

Although dysregulation of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) promotes leukemogenesis, how mTORC1 affects established leukemia is unclear. We investigated the role of mTORC1 in mouse hematopoiesis using a mouse model of conditional deletion of Raptor, an essential component of mTORC1. Raptor deficiency impaired granulocyte and B cell development but did not alter survival or proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. In a mouse model of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Raptor deficiency significantly suppressed leukemia progression by causing apoptosis of differentiated, but not undifferentiated, leukemia cells. mTORC1 did not control cell cycle or cell growth in undifferentiated AML cells in vivo. Transplantation of Raptor-deficient undifferentiated AML cells in a limiting dilution revealed that mTORC1 is essential for leukemia initiation. Strikingly, a subset of AML cells with undifferentiated phenotypes survived long-term in the absence of mTORC1 activity. We further demonstrated that the reactivation of mTORC1 in those cells restored their leukemia-initiating capacity. Thus, AML cells lacking mTORC1 activity can self-renew as AML stem cells. Our findings provide mechanistic insight into how residual tumor cells circumvent anticancer therapies and drive tumor recurrence.

Metabolic Profiling of the Protozoan Parasite Entamoeba invadens Revealed Activation of Unpredicted Pathway during Encystation

Jeelani, G., Sato, D., Husain, A., Cadiz, A.E., Sugimoto, M., Soga, T., Suematsu, M., Nozaki, T.

PLoS One 7 ( 5 ) e37740 2012.05

Research paper (scientific journal), Joint Work, Accepted

Encystation, which is cellular differentiation from the motile, proliferative, labile trophozoite form to the dormant, resistant cyst form, is a crucial process found in parasitic and free-living protozoa such as Entamoeba, Giardia, Acanthamoeba, and Balamuthia. Since encystation is an essential process to deal with the adverse external environmental changes during the life cycle, and often integral to the transmission of the diseases, biochemical understanding of the process potentially provides useful measures against the infections caused by this group of protozoa. In this study, we investigated metabolic and transcriptomic changes that occur during encystation in Entamoeba invadens, the reptilian sibling of mammal-infecting E. histolytica, using capillary electrophoresis-tandem mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling and DNA microarray-based expression profiling. As the encystation progressed, the levels of majority of metabolites involved in glycolysis and nucleotides drastically decreased, indicating energy generation is ceased. Furthermore, the flux of glycolysis was redirected toward chitin wall biosynthesis. We found remarkable temporal increases in biogenic amines such as isoamylamine, isobutylamine, and cadaverine, during the early period of encystation, when the trophozoites form large multicellular aggregates (precyst). We also found remarkable induction of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) during encystation. This study has unveiled for the first time the dynamics of the transcriptional and metabolic regulatory networks during encystation, and should help in better understanding of the process in pathogenic eukaryotes, and further development of measures controlling infections they cause.

Access to Document (DOI)

　 Previous page - Next page 　