Atsushi Sakamoto

Last Updated :2024/10/01

Affiliations, Positions
Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Professor
E-mail
ahkkao(at)hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Self-introduction
My research interests lie in plant science, primarily elucidating molecular mechanisms for plant strategies to grow in and survive under constantly changing environments, with a special focus on the roles of stress-associated biomolecules (including genes, proteins, and metabolites), metabolisms, and their regulation. Applied research is also conducted to exploit the capabilities of plants for better performance and resilience under hostile environments and the productivity of photosynthetic microalgae for useful substances such as biofuels, as efforts to translate the fruits of basic research into practical applications.

Basic Information

Academic Degrees

  • Doctor of Agriculture, Kyoto Prefectural University
  • Master of Agriculture, Kyoto Prefectural University

Research Fields

  • Biology;Basic biology;Plant molecular biology / Plant physiology
  • Agricultural sciences;Agricultural chemistry;Applied biochemistry
  • Agricultural sciences;Agricultural chemistry;Plant nutrition / Soil science

Research Keywords

  • Plant molecular physiology
  • Adaptation/acclimation
  • Metabolic physiology
  • Phytohormone
  • Stress tolerance
  • nitrogen metabolism
  • Sustainable growth
  • Algal bioenergy
  • Plant biotechnology

Educational Activity

Course in Charge

  1. 2024, Liberal Arts Education Program1, 1Term, Fundamentals of Biology
  2. 2024, Liberal Arts Education Program1, 3Term, Introduction to Biology
  3. 2024, Undergraduate Education, 4Term, Introduction to Biological Sciences B
  4. 2024, Liberal Arts Education Program1, 2Term, Introductory Seminar for First-Year Students
  5. 2024, Undergraduate Education, 2Term, Advanced Biology
  6. 2024, Undergraduate Education, 2Term, Basic Biological Science B
  7. 2024, Undergraduate Education, 1Term, Plant Morphology
  8. 2024, Undergraduate Education, Second Semester, Seminar for Molecular Plant Biology
  9. 2024, Undergraduate Education, First Semester, Special Study for Graduation
  10. 2024, Undergraduate Education, Second Semester, Special Study for Graduation
  11. 2024, Undergraduate Education, Second Semester, Practice for Fundamental Biology IV
  12. 2024, Graduate Education (Doctoral Program) , Second Semester, Career Development for Life Science
  13. 2024, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 1Term, Introduction to Life Science
  14. 2024, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Academic Year, Research for Academic Degree Dissertation in Mathematical and Life Sciences
  15. 2024, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 2Term, Topical Seminar in Life Science C
  16. 2024, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 4Term, Topical Seminar in Life Science D
  17. 2024, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 4Term, Molecular Plant Biology
  18. 2024, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , First Semester, Exercises in Life Science A
  19. 2024, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Second Semester, Exercises in Life Science B
  20. 2024, Graduate Education (Doctoral Program) , Academic Year, Research for Academic Degree Dissertation in Integrated Life Sciences
  21. 2024, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 4Term, Introduction to Genetics and Genomics

Research Activities

Academic Papers

  1. Orange protein, phytoene synthase regulator, has protein disulfide reductase activity, Plant Signaling & Behavior, 17(1), e2072094 (5 pages), 20220614
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  2. Genome editing with removable TALEN vectors harboring a yeast centromere and autonomous replication sequence in oleaginous microalga, Scientific Reports, 12, 2480, 20220215
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  3. Dynamics of the leaf endoplasmic reticulum modulate ß-glucosidase-mediated stress-activated ABA production from its glucosyl ester, Journal of Experimental Botany, 71(6), 2058-2071, 20200325
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  4. Efficient and multiplexable genome editing using Platinum TALENs in oleaginous microalga, Nannochloropsis oceanica NIES-2145, Genes to Cells, 25(10), 695-702, 20200905
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  5. Overexpression of BUNDLE SHEATH DEFECTIVE 2 improves the efficiency of photosynthesis and growth in Arabidopsis, Plant Journal, 102(1), 129-137, 20200422
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  6. Arabidopsis BSD2 reveals a novel redox regulation of Rubisco physiology in vivo, Plant Signaling & Behavior, 15(4), 1740873, 20200331
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  7. Arabidopsis molybdenum cofactor sulfurase ABA3 contributes to anthocyanin accumulation and oxidative stress tolerance in ABA-dependent and independent ways, Scientific Reports, 8, 16592, 20181109
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  8. Disruption of ureide degradation affects plant growth and development during and after transition from vegetative to reproductive stages, BMC Plant Biology, 18(1), 287, 201811
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  9. Overexpression of the protein disulfide isomerase AtCYO1 in chloroplasts slows dark-induced senescence in Arabidopsis, BMC PLANT BIOLOGY, 18, 20180504
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  10. Selective nitration of PsbO1 inhibits oxygen evolution from isolated Arabidopsis thylakoid membranes, PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR, 12(4), 2017
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  11. Selective nitration of PsbO1, PsbO2, and PsbP1 decreases PSII oxygen evolution and photochemical efficiency in intact leaves of Arabidopsis, PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR, 12(10), 2017
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  12. Allantoin, a stress-related purine metabolite, can activate jasmonate signaling in a MYC2-regulated and abscisic acid-dependent manner, JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, 67(8), 2519-2532, 201604
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  13. Rice CYO1, an ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana cotyledon chloroplastbiogenesis factor AtCYO1, is expressed in leaves and involved in photosynthetic performance, JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, 207, 78-83, 20161201
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  14. Differential abilities of nitrogen dioxide and nitrite to nitrate proteins in thylakoid membranes isolated from Arabidopsis leaves, PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR, 11(10), 2016
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  15. Light-triggered selective nitration of PsbO1 in isolated Arabidopsis thylakoid membranes is inhibited by photosynthetic electron transport inhibitors, PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR, 11(12), 2016
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  16. In vitro and in vivo evidence for oxalate oxidase activity of a germin-like protein from azalea, BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS, 458(3), 536-542, 201503
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  17. Dual selective nitration in Arabidopsis: almost exclusive nitration of PsbO and PsbP, and highly susceptible nitration of four non-PSII proteins, including peroxiredoxin II E, Electrophoresis , 36(20), 2569-2578, 201503
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  18. The purine metabolite allantoin enhances abiotic stress tolerance through synergistic activation of abscisic acid metabolism, PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT, 37(4), 1022-1036, 201404
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  19. Arabidopsis xanthine dehydrogenase mutants defective in purine degradation show a compromised protective response to drought and oxidative stress, PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY, 31(2), 173-178, 201406
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  20. Nitrogen dioxide regulates organ growth by controlling cell proliferation and enlargement in Arabidopsis, NEW PHYTOLOGIST, 201(4), 1304-1315, 201403
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  21. Structure-function relationship of assimilatory nitrite reductases from the leaf and root of tobacco based on high-resolution structures, PROTEIN SCIENCE, 21(3), 383-395, 201203
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  22. Differences in intron-mediated enhancement of gene expression by the first intron of cytosolic superoxide dismutase gene from rice in monocot and dicot plants, PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY, 29(1), 115-119, 201203
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  23. The reductive reaction mechanism of tobacco nitrite reductase derived from a combination of crystal structures and ultraviolet-visible microspectroscopy, PROTEINS-STRUCTURE FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, 80(8), 2035-2045, 201208
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  24. X-Ray Crystal Structure of a Mutant Assimilatory Nitrite Reductase That Shows Sulfite Reductase-Like Activity, CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY, 9(9), 1989-1999, 201209
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  25. Arabidopsis cotyledon chloroplast biogenesis factor CYO1 uses glutathione as an electron donor and interacts with PSI (A1 and A2) and PSII (CP43 and CP47) subunits, JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, 169(12), 1212-1215, 201208
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  26. Prolonged exposure to atmospheric nitrogen dioxide increases fruit yield of tomato plants, PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY, 28(5), 485-487, 201112
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  27. RNA interference-mediated suppression of xanthine dehydrogenase reveals the role of purine metabolism in drought tolerance in Arabidopsis, FEBS LETTERS, 584(6), 1181-1186, 201003
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  28. Normalization using ploidy and genomic DNA copy number allows absolute quantification of transcripts, proteins and metabolites in cells, PLANT METHODS, 6, 201012
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  29. Atmospheric nitrogen dioxide at ambient levels stimulates growth and development of horticultural plants, BOTANY-BOTANIQUE, 86(2), 213-217, 200802
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  30. Molecular characterization of atmospheric NO(2)-responsive germin-like proteins in azalea leaves, BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS, 377(3), 857-861, 200812
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  31. Effect of atmospheric nitrogen dioxide on mulukhiya (Corchorus olitorius) growth and flowering, American Journal of Plant Physiology, 3, 180-184, 2008
  32. A fungal cytochrome P-450nor confers denitrifying ability to tobacco BY-2 cells, Biotechnology, 7, 250-257, 2008
  33. The RNAi-mediated silencing of xanthine dehydrogenase impairs growth and fertility and accelerates leaf senescence in transgenic arabidopsis plants, PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY, 48(10), 1484-1495, 200710
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  34. Genetic engineering of nitrite reductase gene improves uptake and assimilation of nitrogen dioxide by Rhaphiolepis umbellata (Thunb.) Makino, PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY, 23(1), 111-116, 200603
  35. Atmospheric nitrogen dioxide gas is a plant vitalization signal to increase plant size and the contents of cell constituents, NEW PHYTOLOGIST, 168(1), 149-153, 200510
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  36. Phytoremediators from abandoned rice field, PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY, 22(1), 167-170, 200503
  37. TJ1 is an orientation-independent transformation enhancer sequence, Plant Biotechnology, 22(2), 137-140, 200506
  38. Nocturnal uptake and assimilation of nitrogen dioxide by C3 and CAM plants, ZEITSCHRIFT FUR NATURFORSCHUNG C-A JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCES, 60(3-4), 279-284, 2005
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  39. Novel metabolism of nitrogen in plants, ZEITSCHRIFT FUR NATURFORSCHUNG C-A JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCES, 60(3-4), 265-271, 2005
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  40. Tolerance to, and uptake and degradation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) are enhanced by the expression of a bacterial nitroreductase gene in Arabidopsis thaliana, ZEITSCHRIFT FUR NATURFORSCHUNG C-A JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCES, 60(3-4), 272-278, 2005
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  41. Formation of unidentified nitrogen in plants: an implication for a novel nitrogen metabolism, PLANTA, 219(1), 14-22, 200405
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  42. Three distinct Arabidopsis hemoglobins exhibit peroxidase-like activity and differentially mediate nitrite-dependent protein nitration, FEBS LETTERS, 572(1-3), 27-32, 200408
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  43. Differential expression of the nitrite reductase gene family in tobacco as revealed by quantitative competitive RT-PCR, Journal of Experimental Botany, 55(403), 1761-1763, 200408
  44. Genetic engineering of glycinebetaine synthesis in tomato protects seeds, plants, and flowers from chilling damage, The Plant Journal, 40(4), 474-487, 200411
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  45. Genetic modification of the fatty acid unsaturation of phosphatidylglycerol in chloroplasts alters the sensitivity of tobacco plants to cold stress, PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT, 27(1), 99-105, 200401
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  46. Development of regeneration and transformation systems for Raphiolepis umbellata L. plants using particle bombardment, Plant Biotechnology, 20(2), 145-152, 200306
  47. Genetic engineering of cold-tolerant tomato via glycinebetaine biosynthesis, Cryobiology and Cryotechnology, 49(2), 77-85, 200312
  48. Functional complementation in yeast reveals a protective role of chloroplast 2-Cys peroxiredoxin against reactive nitrogen species, PLANT JOURNAL, 33(5), 841-851, 200303
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  49. Conversion of the nitrate nitrogen and nitrogen dioxide to nitrous oxides in plants, ACTA BIOTECHNOLOGICA, 23(2-3), 249-257, 200307
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  50. Screening and genetic manipulation of plants for decontamination of pollutants from the environments, BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES, 22(1-2), 9-15, 200312
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  51. Transgenics of an elite indica rice variety Pusa Basmati 1 harbouring codA gene are highly tolerant to salt stress, Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 106(1), 51-57, 200212
  52. Mechanism of transgene integration into a host genome by particle bombardment, Plant Biotechnology, 19(4), 219-228, 200212
  53. The role of glycine betaine in the protection of plants from stress: clues from transgenic plants, PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT, 25(2), 163-171, 200202
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  54. Arabidopsis glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase is an S-nitrosoglutathione reductase, FEBS LETTERS, 515(1-3), 20-24, 200203
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  55. The use of bacterial choline oxidase, a glycinebetaine-synthesizing enzyme, to create stress resistant transgenic plants, Plant Physiology, 125(1), 180-188, 200101
  56. Functional expression in Escherichia coli of low-affinity and high-affinity Na+(Li+)/H+ antiportrs of Synechocystis, JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY, 183(4), 1376-1384, 200102
  57. Optical study of cytochrome cM formation in Synechocystis, IUBMB Life, 51(2), 93-98, 200102
  58. Transformation of Arabidopsis with the codA gene for choline oxidase enhances freezing tolerance of plants, The Plant Journal, 22(5), 449-453, 200006
  59. Inactivation of photosystems I and II in response to osmotic stress in Synechococcus. Contribution of water channels, Plant Physiology, 122(4), 1201-1208, 200004
  60. Ionic and osmotic effects of NaCl-induced inactivation of photosystem I and II in Synechococcus sp., Plant Physiology, 123(3), 1047-1056, 200007
  61. Transformation of Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) with a bacterial gene for choline oxidase, Molecular Breeding, 6(5), 501-510, 200010
  62. Protection against the photo-induced inactivation of the photosystem II complex by abscisic acid, PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT, 23(7), 711-718, 200007
  63. Genetic engineering of glycinebetaine synthesis in plants: current status and implications for enhancement of stress tolerance, Journal of Experimental Botany, 51(342), 81-88, 200001
  64. Enhanced tolerance to light stress of transgenic Arabidopsis plants that express the codA gene for a bacterial choline oxidase, Plant Molecular Biology, 40(2), 279-288, 199905
  65. Cloning and characterization of manganese-superoxide dismutase gene from rice, Plant Physiology, 121(3), 1054-1055, 199911
  66. Metabolic engineering of rice leading to biosynthesis of glycinebetaine and tolerance to salt and cold, Plant Molecular Biology, 38(6), 1011-1019, 199812
  67. Enhancement of the tolerance of Arabidopsis to high temperatures by genetic engineering of the synthesis of glycinebetaine, The Plant Journal, 16(2), 155-161, 199810
  68. Enhanced germination under high-salt conditions of seeds of transgenic Arabidopsis with a bacterial gene (codA) for choline oxidase, Journal of Plant Research, 111(1102), 357-362, 199806
  69. Differential response to abscisic acid, Rice Biotechnology Quarterly, 24(4), 22-23, 199510
  70. Structure and differential responses to abscisic acid of two promoters for the cytosolic copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase genes, SodCc1 and SodCc2, in rice protoplasts, FEBS Letters, 358(1), 62-66, 199501
  71. Paraquat tolerance of transgenic Nicotiana tabacum with enhanced activities of glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase, Plant and Cell Physiology, 36(8), 1687-1691, 199512
  72. Successful expression in pollen of various plant species of in vitro synthesized mRNA introduced by particle bombardment, Plant Molecular Biology, 28(2), 337-341, 199505
  73. Molecular cloning of the gene (SodCc1) that encodes a cytosolic copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase from rice (Oryza sativa L.), Plant Physiology, 107(2), 651-652, 199502
  74. Cloning and sequencing analysis of a complementary DNA for manganese-superoxide dismutase from rice (Oryza sativa L.), Plant Physiology, 103(4), 1477-1478, 199312
  75. cDNA cloning and expression of the plastidic copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase from spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves, Plant and Cell Physiology, 34(6), 965-968, 199309
  76. Genomic structure of the gene for copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase in rice, FEBS Letters, 301(2), 185-189, 199204
  77. Nucleotide sequences of two cDNA clones encoding different Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutases expressed in developing rice seed (Oryza sativa L.), Plant Molecular Biology, 19(2), 323-327, 199205
  78. The promoter of the gene for plastidic glutamine synthetase (GS2) from rice is developmentally regulated and exhibits substrate-induced expression in transgenic tobacco plants, Plant and Cell Physiology, 33(3), 233-238, 199204
  79. The promoter of the gene for glutamine synthetase from rice shows organ-specific and substrate-induced expression in transgenic tobacco plants, Plant and Cell Physiology, 32(3), 353-358, 199104
  80. Nucleotide sequence of cDNA for the cytosolic Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase from spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), Nucleic Acids Research, 18(16), 4923-4923, 199008
  81. Phytochrome-mediated activation of the gene for cytosolic glutamine-synthetase (GS1) during imbibition of photosensitive lettuce seeds, Plant Molecular Biology, 15(2), 317-323, 199008
  82. Synthesis de novo of glutamine synthetase in the embryonic axis, closely related to the germination of lettuce seeds, Plant and Cell Physiology, 31(5), 677-682, 199007
  83. Three cDNA sequences coding for glutamine synthetase polypeptides in Oryza sativa L., Plant Molecular Biology, 13(5), 611-614, 198911

Publications such as books

  1. 2007, Uptake, assimilation and novel metabolism of nitrogen dioxide in plants, In: Methods in Biotechnology: Phytoremediation Methods and Review (N. Willey, ed.), Humana Press, 2007, Scholarly Book, Cocompilation, pp.109-118
  2. 2006, Higher plants and metabolism of oxides of nitrogen. In: Focus on Plant Molecular Biology – 2: Biotechnological Approaches to Improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Plants (R. P. Sigh, P. K. Jaiwal, eds.), Studium Presss, 2006, Scholarly Book, Cocompilation, pp.103-133
  3. 1999, Genetic engineering of biosynthesis of glycinebetaine enhances tolerance to various stress. In: Plant Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses in Agriculture: Role of Genetic Engineering: Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop (J. H. Cherry, A. Rychter, R. D. Locy, eds.), Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1999, Scholarly Book, Joint work, pp.95-104
  4. 1999, Enhancement of stress tolerance by gene-engineering of betaine accumulation in plants. In: Photosynthesis: Mechanisms and Effects: Proceedings of the XIth International Congress on Photosynthesis (G. Garab, ed.), Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1999, Scholarly Book, Joint work, pp.2419-2424
  5. 1994, Gene regulation of the rice cytosolic copper/zinc-superoxide dismutases in response to environmental stresses. In: Frontiers of Reactive Oxygen Species in Biology and Medicine: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Superoxide and Superoxide Dismutase, (K. Asada, T. Yoshikawa, eds.), Elsevier, 1994, Scholarly Book, Joint work, pp.257-258
  6. 1993, Gene regulation of rice superoxide dismutases in response to oxidative stress. In: Research in Photosynthesis: Proceedings of the IXth International Congress on Photosynthesis (N. Murata, ed.), Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1993, Scholarly Book, Joint work, pp.545-548