Kouichi Funato

Last Updated :2021/05/10

Affiliations, Positions
Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Associate Professor
E-mail
kfunatohiroshima-u.ac.jp
Self-introduction
We are investigating the transport mechanisms that determine the subcellular localization of lipids and their roles in cellular functions at the molecular-genetic level. We are also developing applied researches for mass production of lipids using yeast as a host.

Basic Information

Academic Degrees

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Science, The University of Tokushima
  • Master of Pharmaceutical Science, The University of Tokushima

Educational Activity

  • 【Bachelor Degree Program】School of Applied Biological Science : Department of Applied Biological Science
  • 【Master's Program】Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life : Division of Integrated Sciences for Life : Program of Food and AgriLife Science
  • 【Doctoral Program】Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life : Division of Integrated Sciences for Life : Program of Food and AgriLife Science

Research Fields

  • Agricultural sciences;Agricultural chemistry;Applied microbiology
  • Agricultural sciences;Agricultural chemistry;Applied biochemistry

Research Keywords

  • yeast
  • lipids
  • synthesis
  • traffic
  • funtions

Educational Activity

Course in Charge

  1. 2021, Liberal Arts Education Program1, 3Term, Cell Science
  2. 2021, Undergraduate Education, Intensive, Laboratory Work in General Chemistry
  3. 2021, Undergraduate Education, 4Term, Introduction to Applied Biological Science II
  4. 2021, Undergraduate Education, 3Term, Research Front of Applied Biological Science
  5. 2021, Undergraduate Education, Intensive, Laboratory Work in Molecular Agro-life ScienceIII
  6. 2021, Undergraduate Education, Intensive, Laboratory Work in Biological Chemistry
  7. 2021, Undergraduate Education, 4Term, Molecular Cell Biology
  8. 2021, Undergraduate Education, 1Term, Cell Technology
  9. 2021, Undergraduate Education, 4Term, Bio-Analytical Science
  10. 2021, Undergraduate Education, 3Term, Reading of Foreign Literature in Molecular Agro-Life Science
  11. 2021, Undergraduate Education, Intensive, (AIMS)Molecular Agro-life Science
  12. 2021, Undergraduate Education, 3Term, Molecular Agro-life Science
  13. 2021, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 1Term, Exercises in Food andAgriLife Science A
  14. 2021, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 2Term, Exercises in Food andAgriLife Science A
  15. 2021, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 3Term, Exercises in Food andAgriLife Science B
  16. 2021, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 4Term, Exercises in Food andAgriLife Science B
  17. 2021, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Academic Year, Research for Academic Degree Dissertation in Food andAgriLife Science
  18. 2021, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 2Term, Applied Molecular Cell Biology I
  19. 2021, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 4Term, Applied Molecular Cell Biology II

Research Activities

Academic Papers

  1. Protocol for measuring sphingolipid metabolism in budding yeast, STAR Protoc., 2021
  2. Ceramide chain length-dependent protein sorting into selective endoplasmic reticulum exit sites., Sci. Adv., 2020
  3. ★, Tricalbins are required for nonvesicular ceramide transport at ER-Golgi contacts and modulate lipid droplet biogenesis., iScience, 2020
  4. A defect in GPI synthesis as a suggested mechanism for the role of ARV1 in intellectual disability and seizures., Neurogenetics, 2020
  5. Cold-sensitive phenotypes of a yeast null mutant of ARV1 support its role as a GPI flippase., FEBS Lett., 2020
  6. Expression of two glutamate decarboxylase genes in Lactobacillus brevis during gamma-aminobutyric acid production with date residue extract., Biosci Biotechnol Biochem., 14, 1-4, 2020
  7. ★, Vesicular and non-vesicular lipid export from the ER to the secretory pathway., Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids., 2020
  8. Sphingolipid/Pkh1/2-TORC1/Sch9 Signaling Regulates Ribosome Biogenesis in Tunicamycin-Induced Stress Response in Yeast., Genetics, 2019
  9. Lysophospholipids Facilitate COPII Vesicle Formation., Curr Biol., 28(12), 1950-1958, 20180618
  10. Gamma-aminobutyric acid fermentation with date residue by a lactic acid bacterium, Lactobacillus brevis., J. Biosci. Bioeng., 125(3), 316-319, 201803
  11. Protection mechanisms against aberrant metabolism of sphingolipids in budding yeast., Curr Genet., 64(5), 1021-1028, 2018
  12. Protective role of the HOG pathway against the growth defect caused by impaired biosynthesis of complex sphingolipids in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Mol. Microbiol., 107(3), 363-386, 201802
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  13. Arp2/3 complex and Mps3 are required for regulation of ribosome biosynthesis in the secretory stress response., Yeast, 34(4), 155-163, 201704
  14. Complementation analysis reveals a potential role of human ARV1 in GPI anchor biosynthesis., Yeast, 33, 37-42, 201602
  15. A lipid regulator working at the cleavage furrow, Cell Cycle, 15(10), 1315-1316, 20160518
  16. Neuronal deficiency of ARV1 causes an autosomal recessive epileptic encephalopathy., Hum Mol Genet., 25(14), 3042-3054, 20160715
  17. COPII Coat Composition Is Actively Regulated by Luminal Cargo Maturation, Curr. Biol., 25(2), 152-162, 20150119
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  18. SMY2 and SYH1 suppress defects in ribosome biogenesis caused by ebp2 mutations, Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 79(9), 1481-1483, 20150902
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  19. Sphingolipids regulate telomere clustering by affecting the transcription of genes involved in telomere homeostasis, J. Cell Sci., 128(14), 2454-2467, 20150715
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  20. The essential function of Rrs1 in ribosome biogenesis is conserved in budding and fission yeasts, Yeast, 32(9), 607-614, 2015
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  21. Producing human ceramide-NS by metabolic engineering using yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Sci. Rep., 5, 20151117
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  22. Osh proteins regulate COPII-mediated vesicular transport of ceramide from the endoplasmic reticulum in budding yeast, J. Cell Sci., 127(2), 376-387, 20140115
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  23. Metabolic labeling of yeast sphingolipids with radioactive D-erythro-[4,5-3H]dihydrosphingosine., Bio-Protocol (http://www.bio-protocol.org), 3(16), 201308
  24. Perturbation of sphingolipid metabolism induces endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis in budding yeast, Mol. Microbiol., 86(5), 1246-1261, 2012
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  25. The yeast p24 complex regulates GPI-anchored protein transport and quality control by monitoring anchor remodeling, Mol. Biol. Cell, 22(16), 2924-2936, 20110815
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  26. Functional Interactions between Sphingolipids and Sterols in Biological Membranes Regulating Cell Physiology, Mol. Biol. Cell, 20(7), 2083-2095, 2009
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  27. ★, Yeast ARV1 is required for efficient delivery of an early GPI intermediate to the first mannosyltransferase during GPI assembly and controls lipid flow from the endoplasmic reticulum., Mol. Biol. Cell, 19, 2069-2082, 20080501
  28. Ethanol-induced death in yeast exhibits features of apoptosis mediated by mitochondrial fission pathway, FEBS Lett., 581(16), 2935-2942, 20070626
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  29. Sphingoid base is required for translation initiation during heat stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Mol. Biol. Cell, 17(3), 1164-1175, 2006
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  30. Lcb4p is a key regulator of ceramide synthesis from exogenous long chain sphingoid base in Saccharomyces cerevisiae., J. Biol. Chem., 278(9), 7325-7334, 20030228
  31. Biosynthesis and trafficking of sphingolipids in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae., Biochemistry, 41(51), 15105-15114, 20021224
  32. Sphingolipid biosynthesis and traffic in yeast., Seikagaku, 74(4), 317-321, 20020401
  33. Sphingolipids are required for the stable membrane association of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins in yeast., J. Biol. Chem., 277(51), 49538-49544, 20021220
  34. ★, Vesicular and nonvesicular transport of ceramide from ER to the Golgi apparatus in yeast., J. Cell Biol., 155(6), 949-959, 20011210
  35. Sphingoid base synthesis requirement for endocytosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae., EMBO J., 19(12), 2824-2833, 20000615
  36. A Salmonella virulence protein inhibits cellular trafficking., EMBO J., 18(14), 3924-3933, 19990715
  37. A novel plasma factor initiating complement activation on cetylmannoside-modified liposomes in human plasma., Int J Pharm, 164, 91-102, 1998
  38. Enhancing effect of cholesterol on the elimination of liposomes from circulation is mediated by complement activation., Int J Pharm, 156, 27-37, 1997
  39. Sequential actions of Rab5 and Rab7 regulate endocytosis in the Xenopus Oocyte., J. Cell Biol., 136(6), 1227-1237, 19970324
  40. Rab7 regulates transport from early to late endocytic compartments in Xenopus Oocytes., J. Biol. Chem., 272(20), 13055-13059, 19970516
  41. ★, Reconstitution of phagosome-lysosome fusion in streptolysin O-permeabilized cells., J. Biol. Chem., 272(26), 16147-16151, 19970627
  42. Biopharmaceutical evaluation of the liposomes prepared by rehydration of freeze-dried empty liposomes (FDELs) with an aqueous solution of a drug., Biopharm Drug Dispos., 17(7), 589-605, 199610
  43. The complement- but not mannose receptor-mediated phagocytosis is involved in the hepatic uptake of cetylmannoside-modified liposomes in situ., J Drug Target, 2, 141-146, 1994
  44. Plasma factor triggering alternative complement pathway activation by liposomes., Pharm Res., 11, 372-376, 199403
  45. Enhanced hepatic uptake of liposomes through complement activation depending on the size of liposomes., Pharm Res., 11(3), 402-406, 199403
  46. ★, Contribution of complement system on destabilization of liposomes composed of hydrogenated egg phosphatidylcholine in rat fresh plasma., Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 1103, 198-204, 199201
  47. Effect of species differences on complement activation by cetylmannoside-modified liposomes in fresh plasma., Drug Delivery System, 7, 165-168, 1992

Publications such as books

  1. 2006, Sphingolipid Biology, [Sphingolipid Trafficking] pp.123-139, 2006, 0, Scholarly Book, Joint work, 4431341986, 531
  2. 2018, Advances in Industrial Applications of Yeast, Koji-molds, and Lactic Acid Bacteria, 2018, 1月, Joint work, J