Topic: The unfolded protein response: the dawn of a new field
Speaker: Dr. Kazutoshi Mori, Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto University (KyotoU)
Date and time: 15:00, April 8
Venue: Auditorium, Y Building
Host: Katsuhiko Mikoshiba
Abstract:
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response (unfolded protein response) is a homeostatic mechanism in which molecular chaperones are transcriptionally induced when secretory and membrane proteins with abnormalities of higher-order structure accumulate in the ER. Dr. Kazutoshi Mori identified IRE1, an ER stress sensor molecule, and HAC1, a transcription factor that undergoes IRE1-dependent mRNA splicing, in budding yeast. In mammals, he showed that the IRE1-HAC1 pathway is conserved as the IRE1-XBP1 pathway, and that ATF6 additionally functions as both a sensor and a transcription factor. He has clarified the physiological significance of the ATF6 pathway during early development. With respect to ER-associated degradation, XBP1 transcriptionally induces factors participating in the ubiquitin-proteasome system and mannosidases such as EDEM2 responsible for the mannose pruning that occurs in the conformationally abnormal glycoproteins. Dr. Mori’s pioneering research has clarified the molecular mechanisms of the ER stress response, and the ripple effects are now being spread in diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders and cardiac diseases.
Biography:
Education:
Ph.D., Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University
2003-2024 Professor, Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University
1999-2003 Associate Professor, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University
2009 Canada Gairdner International Award
2014 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award
2014 Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine
2017/2018 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences
2023 Keio Medical Science Prize