Updated on 2026/07/24

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写真a

 
Kentaro Ito
 
Organization
Graduate School of Medical Life Science Department of Medical Life Science Assistant Professor
School of Science Department of Science
Title
Assistant Professor
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Degree

  • Ph.D. in Life Science ( 2018.3   Tokyo Institute of Technology )

Research Interests

  • MTCLタンパク質

  • RecA family recombinase

  • DNA repair

  • 微小管の集合構造形成機構

  • DNA strand exchange reaction

Research Areas

  • Life Science / Molecular biology

  • Life Science / Biophysics

Education

  • Tokyo Institute of Technology   Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology   Department of Life Science

    2011.4 - 2017.3

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    Country: Japan

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  • Tokyo Institute of Technology   School of Bioscience and Biotechnology

    2007.4 - 2011.3

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Research History

  • Yokohama City University   Graduate School of Medical Life Science   Assistant Professor

    2022.5

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  • Tokyo Institute of Technology   Institute of Innovative Research   Appointed Assistant Professor

    2020.10 - 2022.4

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    Country:Japan

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  • Tokyo Institute of Technology   Institute of Innovative Research   Research Fellow

    2018.4 - 2020.9

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  • Tokyo Institute of Technology   Department of Life Science and Technology   Researcher

    2017.4 - 2018.3

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  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science   Research Fellowship for Young Scientists

    2015.4 - 2017.3

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Papers

  • The Swi5–Sfr1 complex regulates Dmc1- and Rad51-driven DNA strand exchange proceeding through two distinct three-stranded intermediates by different mechanisms Reviewed

    Kentaro Ito, Takahisa Maki, Shuji Kanamaru, Masayuki Takahashi, Hiroshi Iwasaki

    Nucleic Acids Research   2024.9

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    Authorship:Lead author, Corresponding author   Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher:Oxford University Press (OUP)  

    Abstract

    In eukaryotes, Dmc1 and Rad51 are key proteins of homologous recombination. The Swi5–Sfr1 complex in fission yeast, a conserved auxiliary factor, stimulates DNA strand exchange driven by both Dmc1 and Rad51. Interestingly, biochemical analysis suggested that Swi5–Sfr1 regulates strand exchange activities of these recombinases differently, but the mechanisms were unclear. We previously developed a real-time system to analyze Rad51-driven DNA strand exchange and identified two topologically distinct three-stranded intermediates (complex 1 (C1) and complex 2 (C2)). Swi5–Sfr1 facilitates the C1–C2 transition and releases single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) from C2, acting as a strand exchange activator. In this study, we investigated fission yeast Dmc1-driven DNA strand exchange and the role of Swi5–Sfr1 in Dmc1 activity in real-time. Kinetic analysis revealed a three-step model for the Dmc1-driven reaction, similar to that of Rad51. Although Swi5–Sfr1 stimulated the Dmc1-driven reaction, it had a weaker impact than Rad51. Furthermore, Swi5–Sfr1 enhanced the association of Dmc1 with ssDNA by promoting filament nucleus formation, acting as a mediator, unlike its role with Rad51. This stimulation mechanism also differs from that of Ca2+ or ATP analog, AMP–PNP. Our findings suggest that Swi5–Sfr1 stimulates strand exchange activities of Dmc1 and Rad51 via different reaction steps.

    DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae841

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  • Linear dichroism reveals the perpendicular orientation of DNA bases in the RecA and Rad51 recombinase filaments: A possible mechanism for the strand exchange reaction. Reviewed International journal

    Masayuki Takahashi, Kentaro Ito, Hiroshi Iwasaki, Bengt Norden

    Chirality   36 ( 4 )   e23664   2024.4

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    Language:English   Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)  

    Linear dichroism spectroscopy is used to investigate the structure of RecA family recombinase filaments (RecA and Rad51 proteins) with DNA for clarifying the molecular mechanism of DNA strand exchange promoted by these proteins and its activation. The measurements show that the recombinases promote the perpendicular base orientation of single-stranded DNA only in the presence of activators, indicating the importance of base orientation in the reaction. We summarize the results and discuss the role of DNA base orientation.

    DOI: 10.1002/chir.23664

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  • Human Rad51 Protein Requires Higher Concentrations of Calcium Ions for D-Loop Formation than for Oligonucleotide Strand Exchange Reviewed

    Axelle Renodon-Corniere, Tsutomu Mikawa, Naoyuki Kuwabara, Kentaro Ito, Dmitri Levitsky, Hiroshi Iwasaki, Masayuki Takahashi

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences   2024.3

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    Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)  

    DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073633

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  • Rrp1 translocase and ubiquitin ligase activities restrict the genome destabilising effects of Rad51 in fission yeast Reviewed

    Jakub Muraszko, Karol Kramarz, Bilge Argunhan, Kentaro Ito, Gabriela Baranowska, Yumiko Kurokawa, Yasuto Murayama, Hideo Tsubouchi, Sarah Lambert, Hiroshi Iwasaki, Dorota Dziadkowiec

    Nucleic Acids Research   49 ( 12 )   6832 - 6848   2021.7

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    Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher:Oxford University Press (OUP)  

    <title>Abstract</title>
    Rad51 is the key protein in homologous recombination that plays important roles during DNA replication and repair. Auxiliary factors regulate Rad51 activity to facilitate productive recombination, and prevent inappropriate, untimely or excessive events, which could lead to genome instability. Previous genetic analyses identified a function for Rrp1 (a member of the Rad5/16-like group of SWI2/SNF2 translocases) in modulating Rad51 function, shared with the Rad51 mediator Swi5-Sfr1 and the Srs2 anti-recombinase. Here, we show that Rrp1 overproduction alleviates the toxicity associated with excessive Rad51 levels in a manner dependent on Rrp1 ATPase domain. Purified Rrp1 binds to DNA and has a DNA-dependent ATPase activity. Importantly, Rrp1 directly interacts with Rad51 and removes it from double-stranded DNA, confirming that Rrp1 is a translocase capable of modulating Rad51 function. Rrp1 affects Rad51 binding at centromeres. Additionally, we demonstrate in vivo and in vitro that Rrp1 possesses E3 ubiquitin ligase activity with Rad51 as a substrate, suggesting that Rrp1 regulates Rad51 in a multi-tiered fashion.

    DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab511

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  • A conserved Ctp1/CtIP C-terminal peptide stimulates Mre11 endonuclease activity Reviewed

    Aleksandar Zdravković, James M. Daley, Arijit Dutta, Tatsuya Niwa, Yasuto Murayama, Shuji Kanamaru, Kentaro Ito, Takahisa Maki, Bilge Argunhan, Masayuki Takahashi, Hideo Tsubouchi, Patrick Sung, Hiroshi Iwasaki

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America   118 ( 11 )   2021.3

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    Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)  

    DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2016287118

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  • Real-time tracking reveals catalytic roles for the two DNA binding sites of Rad51 Reviewed

    Kentaro Ito, Yasuto Murayama, Yumiko Kurokawa, Shuji Kanamaru, Yuichi Kokabu, Takahisa Maki, Tsutomu Mikawa, Bilge Argunhan, Hideo Tsubouchi, Mitsunori Ikeguchi, Masayuki Takahashi, Hiroshi Iwasaki

    Nature Communications   11 ( 1 )   2020.12

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    Authorship:Lead author   Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher:Springer Science and Business Media {LLC}  

    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16750-3

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  • Two auxiliary factors promote Dmc1-driven DNA strand exchange via stepwise mechanisms Reviewed

    Hideo Tsubouchi, Bilge Argunhan, Kentaro Ito, Masayuki Takahashi, Hiroshi Iwasaki

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America   117 ( 22 )   2020.6

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    DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1917419117

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  • Cooperative interactions facilitate stimulation of Rad51 by the Swi5-Sfr1 auxiliary factor complex Reviewed

    Bilge Argunhan, Masayoshi Sakakura, Negar Afshar, Misato Kurihara, Kentaro Ito, Takahisa Maki, Shuji Kanamaru, Yasuto Murayama, Hideo Tsubouchi, Masayuki Takahashi, Hideo Takahashi, Hiroshi Iwasaki

    eLife   9   2020.3

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    Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)  

    DOI: 10.7554/eLife.52566

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  • Real-time Observation of the DNA Strand Exchange Reaction Mediated by Rad51 Reviewed

    Kentaro Ito, Bilge Argunhan, Hideo Tsubouchi, Hiroshi Iwasaki

    Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE   ( 144 )   2019.2

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    Authorship:Lead author   Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)  

    DOI: 10.3791/59073

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  • Swi5-Sfr1 stimulates Rad51 recombinase filament assembly by modulating Rad51 dissociation Reviewed

    Chih Hao Lu, Hsin Yi Yeh, Guan Chin Su, Kentaro Ito, Yumiko Kurokawa, Hiroshi Iwasaki, Peter Chi, Hung Wen Li

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America   115 ( 43 )   E10059 - E10068   2018.10

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    Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)  

    DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1812753115

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  • RecA requires two molecules of Mg<sup>2+</sup> ions for its optimal strand exchange activity in vitro Reviewed

    Raeyeong Kim, Shuji Kanamaru, Tsutomu Mikawa, Chantal Prévost, Kentaro Ishii, Kentaro Ito, Susumu Uchiyama, Masayuki Oda, Hiroshi Iwasaki, Seog K. Kim, Masayuki Takahashi

    Nucleic Acids Research   46 ( 5 )   2548 - 2559   2018.3

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    Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)  

    DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky048

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  • Two three-strand intermediates are processed during Rad51-driven DNA strand exchange Reviewed

    Kentaro Ito, Yasuto Murayama, Masayuki Takahashi, Hiroshi Iwasaki

    Nature Structural and Molecular Biology   25 ( 1 )   29 - 36   2018.1

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    Authorship:Lead author   Language:English   Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher:Nature Publishing Group  

    DOI: 10.1038/s41594-017-0002-8

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  • Multiple Regulation of Rad51-Mediated Homologous Recombination by Fission Yeast Fbh1 Reviewed

    Yasuhiro Tsutsui, Yumiko Kurokawa, Kentaro Ito, Md Shahjahan P. Siddique, Yumiko Kawano, Fumiaki Yamao, Hiroshi Iwasaki

    PLoS Genetics   10 ( 8 )   2014.8

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    Language:English   Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher:Public Library of Science  

    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004542

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  • Swi5-Sfr1 protein stimulates Rad51-mediated DNA strand exchange reaction through organization of DNA bases in the presynaptic filament Reviewed

    Louise H. Fornander, Axelle Renodon-Cornière, Naoyuki Kuwabara, Kentaro Ito, Yasuhiro Tsutsui, Toshiyuki Shimizu, Hiroshi Iwasaki, Bengt Nordén, Masayuki Takahashi

    Nucleic Acids Research   42 ( 4 )   2358 - 2365   2014.2

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    DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt1257

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MISC

  • Human Rad51 Protein Requires Higher Concentrations of Calcium Ions for D-loop Formation Than for Oligonucleotide Strand Exchange

    Masayuki Takahashi, Axelle Renodon-Corniere, Tsutomu Mikawa, Naoyuki Kuwabara, Kentaro Ito, Dmitri Levitsky, Hiroshi Iwasaki

    preprints.org   2024.1

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    Publisher:MDPI AG  

    Human RAD51 protein (HsRad51)-promoted DNA strand exchange, a crucial step in homologous recombination, is regulated by proteins and calcium ions. The activator protein Swi5-Sfr1 and Ca2+ ions stimulate different reaction steps and induce a perpendicular orientation of DNA bases in the presynaptic complex. To investigate the importance of base orientation in the strand exchange reaction, we examined the Ca2+ concentration dependence of strand exchange activities and structural changes in the presynaptic complex. Our results show that optimal D-loop formation (strand exchange with closed circular DNA) requires Ca2+ concentrations greater than 5 mM, while 1 mM is sufficient for strand exchange between two oligonucleotides. The structural change, which is evidenced by an increase in fluorescence intensity of poly(dεA) (a poly(dA) analog), reaches a plateau at 1 mM Ca2+. Meanwhile, the linear dichroism signal intensity at 260 nm, which is indicative of rigid perpendicular DNA base orientation, requires &amp;gt;2 mM Ca2+ for saturation and thus correlates with the stimulation of D-loop formation. Therefore, Ca2+ exerts two different effects. Thermal stability measurements suggest that HsRad51 binds two Ca2+ ions with KD values of 0.3 mM and 2.5 mM, implying that one step is stimulated by one Ca2+ bond and the other by two Ca2+ bonds. We further discuss the parallels between Mg2+ activation of RecA and Ca2+ activation of HsRad51.

    DOI: 10.20944/preprints202401.1991.v1

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  • Rrp1 translocase and ubiquitin ligase activities restrict the genome destabilising effects of Rad51 in fission yeast

    Jakub Muraszko, Bilge Argunhan, Kentaro Ito, Gabriela Baranowska, Anna Barg-Wojas, Karol Kramarz, Yumiko Kurokawa, Hiroshi Iwasaki, Dorota Dziadkowiec

    bioRxiv   2020.5

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    Publisher:Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory  

    Abstract

    Rad51 is the key protein in homologous recombination DNA repair and has important roles during DNA replication. Auxiliary factors regulate Rad51 activity to facilitate productive, and prevent inappropriate, recombination that could lead to genome instability. Previous genetic analyses identified a function for Rrp1 (a member of the Rad5/16-like group of SWI2/SNF2 translocases) in counteracting Rad51 activity, shared with the Rad51 mediator Swi5-Sfr1 and the Srs2 anti-recombinase. Here, we show that Rrp1 overproduction alleviates the toxicity associated with excessive Rad51 activity in a manner dependent on Rrp1 ATPase domain. Purified Rrp1 binds to DNA and has a DNA-dependent ATPase activity. Importantly, Rrp1 directly interacts with Rad51 and removes it from double-stranded DNA, confirming that Rrp1 is a translocase capable of modulating Rad51 activity. Additionally, we demonstrate that Rrp1 possesses E3 ubiquitin ligase activity with Rad51 as a substrate, suggesting that Rrp1 regulates Rad51 in a multi-tiered fashion.

    DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.30.125286

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  • Real-time tracking reveals the catalytic process of Rad51-driven DNA strand exchange

    Kentaro Ito, Yasuto Murayama, Yumiko Kurokawa, Shuji Kanamaru, Yuichi Kokabu, Takahisa Maki, Bilge Argunhan, Hideo Tsubouchi, Mitsunori Ikeguchi, Masayuki Takahashi, Hiroshi Iwasaki

    bioRxiv   2019.11

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    Authorship:Lead author   Publisher:Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory  

    Abstract

    During homologous recombination, Rad51 forms a nucleoprotein filament on single-stranded DNA to promote DNA strand exchange. This filament binds to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), searches for homology, and promotes transfer of the complementary strand, producing a new heteroduplex. Strand exchange proceeds via two distinct three-strand intermediates, C1 and C2. C1 contains the intact donor dsDNA whereas C2 contains newly formed heteroduplex DNA. Here, we show that conserved DNA binding motifs, loop 1 (L1) and loop 2 (L2) in site I of Rad51, play distinct roles in this process. L1 is involved in formation of the C1 complex whereas L2 mediates the C1-C2 transition, producing the heteroduplex. Another DNA binding motif, site II, serves as the DNA entry position for initial Rad51 filament formation, as well as for second donor dsDNA incorporation. Our study provides a comprehensive molecular model for the catalytic process of strand exchange mediated by eukaryotic RecA family recombinases.

    DOI: 10.1101/839324

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  • Rad51 Interaction Analysis Reveals a Functional Interplay Among Recombination Auxiliary Factors

    Bilge Argunhan, Masayoshi Sakakura, Negar Afshar, Misato Kurihara, Kentaro Ito, Takahisa Maki, Shuji Kanamaru, Yasuto Murayama, Hideo Tsubouchi, Masayuki Takahashi, Hideo Takahashi, Hiroshi Iwasaki

    bioRxiv   2019.8

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    Publisher:Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory  

    ABSTRACT

    Although Rad51 is the key protein in homologous recombination (HR), a major DNA double-strand break repair pathway, several auxiliary factors interact with Rad51 to promote productive HR. Here, we present an interdisciplinary characterization of the interaction between Rad51 and Swi5-Sfr1, a widely conserved auxiliary factor. NMR and site-specific crosslinking experiments revealed two distinct sites within the intrinsically disordered N-terminus of Sfr1 that cooperatively bind to Rad51. Although disruption of this binding severely impaired Rad51 stimulation in vitro, interaction mutants did not show any defects in DNA repair. Unexpectedly, in the absence of the Rad51 paralogs Rad55-Rad57, which constitute another auxiliary factor complex, these interaction mutants were unable to promote DNA repair. Our findings provide molecular insights into Rad51 stimulation by Swi5-Sfr1 and suggest that, rather than functioning in an independent subpathway of HR as was previously proposed, Rad55-Rad57 facilitates the recruitment of Swi5-Sfr1 to Rad51.

    DOI: 10.1101/738179

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Presentations

  • DNA鎖交換反応におけるRad51のDNA結合部位の機能解析 Invited

    伊藤健太郎, 岩﨑博史

    日本生化学会第95回大会  2022.11 

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    Event date: 2022.11

    Language:Japanese   Presentation type:Symposium, workshop panel (public)  

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  • Rad51によるDNA三本鎖中間体からヘテロ二重鎖DNA形成機構の酵素学的解析 Invited

    伊藤健太郎, 岩﨑博史

    日本生化学会第93回大会 

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    Event date: 2020.9

    Language:Japanese   Presentation type:Symposium, workshop panel (public)  

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Awards

  • Chorafas Prize 2018

    2018.9   The Dimitris N. Chorafas Foundation  

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  • The 10th 3R international symposium Poster Award

    2016.11  

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  • Best Paper Award 2016

    2016.9   The Genetic Society of Japan  

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Research Projects

  • まだら状の結合様式を示す微小管側面相互作用因子MTCL1による微小管修復機構の解析

    Grant number:23K05769  2023.4 - 2026.3

    日本学術振興会  科学研究費助成事業  基盤研究(C)

    伊藤 健太郎

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    Grant amount:\4680000 ( Direct Cost: \3600000 、 Indirect Cost:\1080000 )

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  • Understanding of the mechanism of heteroduplex formation by RecA family recombinase at atomic resolution

    Grant number:21K15050  2021.4 - 2023.3

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists  Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists

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  • Molecular mechanisms of DNA strand exchange reaction driven by eukaryotic RecA family recombinases

    Grant number:19K16039  2019.4 - 2021.3

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research  Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists

    Ito Kentaro

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    Grant amount:\4160000 ( Direct Cost: \3200000 、 Indirect Cost:\960000 )

    Homologous recombination is a biological mechanism that is essential for the maintenance of genetic information and is conserved in all species. DNA strand exchange reaction catalyzed by RecA family recombinases is a central step of homologous recombination. However, it has been unclear how homologous DNA sequences are recognized and how DNA strands are exchanged by recombinases. In this study, to clarify the molecular mechanism of this reaction, we generated many mutants of Rad51, a eukaryotic RecA family recombinase, and analyzed DNA strand exchange reaction in real-time.

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  • Rad51リコンビナーゼによるDNA鎖交換反応の分子機構

    Grant number:15J08408  2015.4 - 2017.3

    日本学術振興会  科学研究費助成事業 特別研究員奨励費  特別研究員奨励費

    伊藤 健太郎

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    Grant amount:\1700000 ( Direct Cost: \1700000 )

    相同組換えの中心的な反応であるDNA鎖交換はRad51リコンビナーゼによって触媒される。この反応では、まずDNA二重鎖切断末端がプロセッシングされてできた単鎖DNAにRad51が結合しヌクレオプロテインフィラメントを形成する。そして、この高次複合体が二重鎖DNAをキャッチし相同配列の検索、相同二重鎖とのDNA鎖交換反応をおこなう。我々はこれまでにRad51の活性化因子として分裂酵母Swi5-Sfr1複合体を同定した。本研究ではSwi5-Sfr1複合体が多段階反応であるDNA鎖交換の各段階にどのように作用するか調べるために、オリゴDNAの末端に蛍光基を付加し蛍光共鳴エネルギー移動(FRET)の原理を利用して反応中間体形成と最終産物の生成をリアルタイムに観察する系を構築した。解析の結果、DNA鎖交換反応では二つの中間体を経て最終産物が生成されること。中間体の形成にはRad51のATP結合、中間体の遷移・最終産物の形成にはRad51のATPase活性が重要であることがわかった。更にSwi5-Sfr1複合体は、Rad51のATPase活性依存的に中間体の遷移・最終産物の生成を強く促進することが明らかになった。
    さらに、Rad51-単鎖DNAフィラメント表面に露出していると予想されるアミノ酸をそれぞれアラニンに置換した変異体を147種作製し、分裂酵母の遺伝学的性質を利用してSwi5-Sfr1との相互作用に特異的に欠損のあるRad51変異体を9種分離した。そのうち1種について解析を行った結果、野生型に比べATPase活性が遅くなり、Swi5-Sfr1複合体によって中間体の遷移・最終産物生成がほとんど促進されないことがわかった。この結果は生体内でもRad51のATPase活性にカップルしたSwi5-Sfr1複合体によるDNA鎖交換反応の促進が重要であることを支持する。

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Media Coverage

  • 「DNA相同組換えの中心」DNA鎖交換の反応を解明 Newspaper, magazine

    科学新聞  4面  2020.7

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  • Rad51に依存的なDNA鎖交換反応は2種類の3本鎖DNA中間体をへて進行する Internet

    ライフサイエンス論文新着レビュー  DOI: 10.7875/first.author.2018.001  2018

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  • 相同組換えのDNA鎖交換反応「世界初」東工大、国立遺伝研が解明 Newspaper, magazine

    科学新聞  1面  2017.12

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