Masahiro Higuchi, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Doctoral Degree
Tokyo University, Immunology
E-mail
Phone
mhiguchi@uams.edu
501-526-7520
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Research overview:
Roles of mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA in apoptosis and cancer progression
Mitochondria are now considered a key organelle regulating apoptosis. We showed that depletion of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) reduced apoptosis induced by specific mediators. We also showed that mtDNA regulate prostate cancer hormone-dependence and progressed phenotype. Cancer has a high frequency of large deletions, point mutation and depletion of mtDNA. Cells with abnormally regulated mtDNA lack some or most mtDNA-encoded proteins and therefore might show characteristics similar to those of cells with depleted mtDNA. Our studies are designed to investigate the mechanisms and the roles of the change in mtDNA as a potential cause for cancer progression.
Selected Publications:
Weber T., Dalen H., Andera L., Nègre-Salvayre A., Sticha M., Pallardo FV., Terman A., Witting PK.,
Higuchi M., Plasilova M., Gellert N., Weber C., and Neuzil J.: Mitochondria Play a Central Role in Apoptosis Induced by -Tocopheryl Succinate, an Agent with Antineoplastic Activity: Comparison with Receptor-Mediated Pro-apoptotic Signaling. Biochemistry 42 4277-4291 (2003).
Higuchi M., Manna, S.K., Sasaki R. and Aggarwal, B. B. Regulation of the Activation of Nuclear Transcriptional Factor by Mitochondrial Respiratory Function. Evidence for the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-Dependent and Independent Pathways. Antioxidants and Redox Signaling 4 945-955 (2002).
Haridas V, Higuchi M, Mujoo K, Jayatilake G, Bailey D, Blake ME, and Gutterman JU. Avicins: Novel triterpenoid saponins from Acacia vivtoriaeinduce apoptosis by mitochondrial perturbation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98 5821-5826 (2001).
Nishimura G, Proske R J, Doyama H, and Higuchi M. :Regulation of Apoptosis by Respiration : Cytochrome c Release by Respiratory Substrates. FEBS letter 505 398-404 (2001).
Higuchi M, Honda T., Rita, J. P. and Yeh E. T. H. : Regulation of Reactive Oxygen Species-Induced Apoptosis and Necrosis by Caspase 3-like Proteases. Oncogene 17. 2753-2760 (1998).
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