All symposia will be given in English.
How to Read the Session Numbers
Date + Symposium (S) + Room
(ex.) 2S2: Day 2   Symposium   Room 2

1S2	December 1 (Tue) 9:00-11:30 Room 2 (Kobe Portopia Hotel Kairaku 1 Main Building B1F)

Molecular system for creating, decoding, and destroying glycans

Organizers:	Koichi Kato (National Institutes of Natural Sciences) / Shinji Miyata (Nagoya University)

Although the importance of the classical glycan modification has been well established, there are many glycan-related genes whose function remains to be determined. Recent genome-wide association studies have suggested that these glycan-related genes are associated with several human diseases. In this symposium, we try to understand novel molecular systems governing biosynthesis, recognition, and degradation of glycans that regulate complex biological processes.

1S3	December 1 (Tue) 9:00-11:30 Room 3 (Kobe Portopia Hotel Kairaku 2 Main Building B1F)

Spontaneous pattern formation driven by cell-cell communication

Organizers:	Eisuke Nishida (Kyoto University) / Miki Ebisuya (RIKEN)

In a multicellular organism, a number of cells communicate with each other, spontaneously giving rise to spatiotemporal patterns. The resulting cell patterns serve as the important basis for the subsequent cellular differentiation and morphogenesis. The ways of cell-cell communication are diverse―they include long range interactions via secreted factors and direct cell-cell contacts―, and so are the resulting cell patterns―they include simple geometric patterns and more complex patterns. The diversity and universality of the cell pattern formation will be discussed.

1S4	December 1 (Tue) 9:00-11:30 Room 4 (Kobe Portopia Hotel Kairaku 3 Main Building B1F)

Molecular Mechanisms of Brain and Mind development

Organizers:	Fumio Matsuzaki (RIKEN) / Tomomi Shimogori (RIKEN)

Developing brain is mostly influenced by genetic background while embryonic stages, and become more influenced by environment after postnatal stages. To reveal sequential dynamics of brain development, understanding of mechanism for cell differentiation, migration, axon guidance, dendrite patterning and spine formation are crucial. We will introduce new insights of molecular matrix of brain development dynamics along with new technologies to provide update information for non- neuroscientists.

1S14	December 1 (Tue) 9:00-11:30 Room 14 (Kobe International Conference Center Main Hall 1F)

Autophagy

Organizers:	Noboru Mizushima (The University of Tokyo) / Maho Hamasaki (Osaka University)

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation system, by which cytoplasmic materials are degraded in the lysosome. Understanding of the diversity of the autophagy pathways and their molecular mechanisms has been rapidly progressed. In the meantime, involvements of autophagy in many physiological processes and human diseases have also been identified, and searching for autophagy-modulating drugs is in progress worldwide. The autophagy research has now entered into a new stage. In this symposium, we will discuss today's autophagy from various viewpoints.

1S15	December 1 (Tue) 9:00-11:30 Room 15 (Kobe International Conference Center International Conference Room 3F)

Genomics and Epigenomics in Development and Evolution

Organizers:	Hiroyuki Takeda (The University of Tokyo) / Koji Tamura (Tohoku University)

Over the past decade, many organisms, including non-model organisms, have had their genomes sequenced and furthermore their epigenetic code is being extensively decoded. The massive amount of this information enables us to attack long-standing questions in developmental biology and evolutionary biology. In this symposium, we will address how the genome evolved and shapes the organism during speciation and evolution and how the epigenetic code regulates gene expression during development from embryo to adult.

2S2	December 2 (Wed) 9:00-11:30 Room 2 (Kobe Portopia Hotel Kairaku 1 Main Building B1F)

Organelle biology: New pictures of cellular structures and functions

Organizers:	Toshiya Endo (Kyoto Sangyo University) / Gia Voeltz (University of Colorado Boulder)

Organelle biology is stepping into a new phase. Responding to changes in cellular demands and environments, organelles dynamically alter their structures, morphology, quantities, and resulting functions. In addition to preforming distinct biochemical tasks by compartmentalization with membranes, different organelles exchanges information and metabolites with each other, often through inter-organelle physical contacts, to function in coordinated manners for maintenance of cellular homeostasis. In this symposium, we will be discussing new pictures of cellular structures and functions that are revealed by latest researches on various organelles.

2S3	December 2 (Wed) 9:00-11:30 Room 3 (Kobe Portopia Hotel Kairaku 2 Main Building B1F)

For those with crystallophobia

Organizers:	So Iwata (Kyoto University / Riken) / Mikako Shirouzu (RIKEN)

X-ray crystallography and solution NMR have been standard protocols to determine the structures of macromolecules since long. New strategies which can break the limit of these conventional methods, for example, solid/solution NMR toward native membrane environment and the EM single particle analysis, are now emerging. XFEL allows us to work with sub-micron crystals. We will discuss the current limitations and the prospect of these new methodologies.

2S4	December 2 (Wed) 9:00-11:30 Room 4 (Kobe Portopia Hotel Kairaku 3 Main Building B1F)

New technologies for imaging and regulation of cellular proteins: from subcellular region to whole bodies

Organizers:	Itaru Hamachi (Kyoto University) / Shigeki Kiyonaka (Kyoto University)

Genetic engineering and development of fluorescent proteins enable us to visualize proteins in live cells. As a complimentary approach, chemical biology-based methods for imaging and regulation cellular proteins using small molecules are being developed to data. Moreover, protein imaging and regulation can also be conducted not only in cells but also in whole bodies. In this symposium, we would like to introduce and discuss novel techniques for imaging and regulation of proteins from subcellular domains to whole bodies.

2S14	December 2 (Wed) 9:00-11:30 Room 14 (Kobe International Conference Center Main Hall 1F)

The life sciences elucidated by the analysis of angio / lymphangiogenesis

Organizers:	Kohei Miyazono (The University of Tokyo) / Nobuyuki Takakura (Osaka University)

Angio / lymphangiogenesis is regulated by tissue specific remodeling mediated by the interaction between endothelial cells and organ specific cells. Disruption of vascular maintenance causes several vascular diseases and several strategies to regulate vascular disorder have been developed. In this session, biological phenomena elucidated by the analysis in vascular biology will be discussed from the perspective of development, pathology, molecular biology, and so on.

2S15	December 2 (Wed) 9:00-11:30 Room 15 (Kobe International Conference Center International Conference Room 3F)

Life driven by RNAs

Organizers:	Mikiko C. Siomi (The University of Tokyo) / Kiyokazu Agata (Kyoto University )

Next-generation sequencing technology, combined with bioinformatics analyses, has uncovered a vast diversity of RNA transcript types, mostly non-coding, in living cells. Recent studies have clarified the functions of these RNA transcripts, which, we must admit, are as diverse as their types. What molecules do RNAs associate with to form the functional complexes that play roles in cellular events? What are the effects of these interactions and reactions, and how do they control biological phenomena in living organisms? We will focus on life phenomena driven by RNAs in various species at this symposium, sharing our latest knowledge of the RNA field, and our enthusiasm for RNA molecules, with the attendees of the symposium.

3S2	December 3 (Thu) 9:00-11:30 Room 2 (Kobe Portopia Hotel Kairaku 1 Main Building B1F)

Nascent chains: the ribosome as a hub for protein quality control

Organizers:	Hideki Taguchi (Tokyo Institute of Technology) / Toshifumi Inada (Tohoku University)

Life depends on correct gene expressions. Proteins do not instantaneously finish the synthesis and folding into functioning products, but experience the nascent peptidyl-tRNAs, defined as "nascent chains", during the translation. So far, nascent chains are regarded as transient intermediates during the protein synthesis. However, recent advances have revealed that nascent chains are directly involved in a variety of cellular processes including self-maturation and the quality control system of protein and mRNA. The ribosome functions as a hub for protein quality control. This symposium aims to introduce and discuss the emerging topics that regulate the gene expression and the proteostasis in the cell.

3S3	December 3 (Thu) 9:00-11:30 Room 3 (Kobe Portopia Hotel Kairaku 2 Main Building B1F)

Molecular Basis of Oxidative-Electrophilic Stress Response

Organizers:	Masaaki Komatsu (Niigata University) / Masayuki Yamamoto (Tohoku University)

Our body equips a cytoprotective system that senses environmental insults and activates cellular defense enzyme genes. Transcription factor Nrf2 is essential for the coordinated induction of defense enzymes in response to electrophiles and ROS. Keap1 is a component of ubiquitin-E3 ligase that degrades Nrf2 constitutively via the proteasome system. The Keap1-Nrf2 system also interacts with the autophagy system. The Keap1-Nrf2 system opens a new avenue to the understanding of the stress response regulation.

3S4	December 3 (Thu) 9:00-11:30 Room 4 (Kobe Portopia Hotel Kairaku 3 Main Building B1F)

Cell and Time

Organizers:	Hitoshi Okamura (Kyoto University) / Yumiko Saga (National Institute of Genetics)

Time is an integral part of our lives. Rhythm is a gift from our planet, and a clock that synchronizes us with the Earth ticks at the core of the cell since the dawn of life. Cell cycle is the foundation of life: all living organisms living now on earth are the products of uncountable rounds of cell growth and division, extending back in time to the very beginnings of life. In this symposium, we will discuss how time regulates cellular proliferation and differentiation at the molecular level.

3S14	December 3 (Thu) 9:00-11:30 Room 14 (Kobe International Conference Center Main Hall 1F)

Customizing cells and organisms using genome editing

Organizers:	Takashi Yamamoto (Hiroshima University) / Akitsu Hotta (Kyoto University)

Genome editing enables the modification of specific target genes. In particular, since the development of the CRISPR/Cas9 system at the beginning of 2013, it has rapidly become an indispensible technology for all life science researchers. In this symposium, we will focus on the generation and customization of cells and animal models using genome editing technology, share recent progress, and discuss future directions of the genome editing field.

3S15	December 3 (Thu) 9:00-11:30 Room 15 (Kobe International Conference Center International Conference Room 3F)

Genetic/Epigenetic Regulation and Reconstitution In Vitro of Germ Cell Development

Organizers:	Mitinori Saitou (Kyoto University) / Katsuhiko Hayashi (Kyushu University)

The germ cell lineage ensures the creation of new individuals, thereby perpetuating and diversifying the genetic and epigenetic information across the generations. With distinguished investigators on germ cell development, epigenome regulation, and reconstitution in vitro by pluripotent stem cells, this symposium aims to discuss frontiers of research on germ cells and its implication in medicine.

4S2	December 4 (Fri) 9:00-11:30 Room 2 (Kobe Portopia Hotel Kairaku 1 Main Building B1F)

The busy world of plant cells: dynamic organelle movements and their physiological roles

Organizers:	Ikuko Hara-Nishimura (Kyoto University) / Kentaro Tamura (Kyoto University)

The organelle movements have attracted significant attention over the years. The most famous movement "cytoplasmic streaming" was first described in 1774. Recent development in live-cell imaging technology has advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying movements of various organelles. This symposium will discuss the cutting-edge studies on plant organelle dynamics and their roles.

4S3	December 4 (Fri) 9:00-11:30 Room 3 (Kobe Portopia Hotel Kairaku 2 Main Building B1F)

Understanding of organogenesis beyond the hierarchy of multicellular behaviors

Organizers:	Akira Kikuchi (Osaka University) / Mototsugu Eiraku (RIKEN)

Organogenesis is a highly dynamic process in which multicellular behaviors are regulated by mechanisms in multiple scales from molecules and cells to tissues. To understand the complex phenomena, it is necessary to discover a novel principle explaining the inter-hierarchical relationship. This symposium will deal with molecular mechanisms and multicellular dynamics underlying organogenesis. Future directions for an in vitro generation of functional organs will also be discussed.

4S4	December 4 (Fri) 9:00-11:30 Room 4 (Kobe Portopia Hotel Kairaku 3 Main Building B1F)

New aspects of lipid biology unveiled by lipidomics –from bench to clinic–

Organizers:	Hiroyuki Arai (The University of Tokyo) / Junken Aoki (Tohoku University)

Bioactive lipids or signaling lipids are produced through specific enzymatic modifications and involved in wide range of biological and patho-physiological events. Japanese researchers have contributed greatly to the research field of bioactive lipids. Recent advance in LIPIDOMICS has revealed unexpected functions of pre-existing and newly identified lipids. In this symposium, researchers who have led this field will present the latest advances ranging from basic to clinical researches.

4S14	December 4 (Fri) 9:00-11:30 Room 14 (Kobe International Conference Center Main Hall 1F)

Maintenance and plasticity of epigenetic memory

Organizers:	Yoichi Shinkai (RIKEN) / Jun-ichi Nakayama (Nagoya City University)

The covalent modifications of DNA and histones play a fundamental role in the epigenetic cellular-memory system. Epigenetic information established during development is faithfully maintained across cell division, whereas it is reset in the process of germ cell development. Epigenetic memory could be changed by environmental stimuli, which leads to diseases and aging. In this symposium, we will focus on the mechanisms underlying the maintenance, reorganization, and plasticity of the epigenetic memory, and further discuss its role in diverse biological processes.

4S15	December 4 (Fri) 9:00-11:30 Room 15 (Kobe International Conference Center International Conference Room 3F)

Tissue Remodeling and Diseases

Organizers:	Yoshihiro Ogawa (Tokyo Medical and Dental University) / Motoko Yanagita (Kyoto University )

Tissue remodeling is a physiologic repair response to tissue injuries, and, when highly progressive, may result in organ malfunction and death. Histologically, an irreversible fibrotic change ensues at the end-stage of diseases, although the detailed molecular mechanism is poorly understood. There are still many unmet medical needs in chronic inflammatory diseases. Here we discuss recent advances in tissue remodeling research and its future perspective in a variety of pathologic conditions across organs.