Masaki Mizunuma

Last Updated :2026/07/06

Affiliations, Positions
Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Professor
Web Site
http://namihei.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/
E-mail
mmizu49120hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Self-introduction
We are working to elucidate the lifespan mechanism using model organisms (yeasts and nematodes). In particular, we are focusing on the prevention of aging by metabolites, and aim to apply the results not only to medical treatment but also to the food field.

Basic Information

Academic Degrees

  • Doctor of Engineering, Hiroshima University
  • Master of Engineering, Hiroshima University

Educational Activity

  • [Bachelor Degree Program] School of Engineering : Cluster 3(Applied Chemistry, Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering) : Program of Biotechnology
  • [Master's Program] Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life : Division of Integrated Sciences for Life : Program of Biotechnology
  • [Doctoral Program] Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life : Division of Integrated Sciences for Life : Program of Biotechnology

Research Fields

  • Agricultural sciences;Agricultural chemistry;Applied microbiology
  • Agricultural sciences;Agricultural chemistry;Applied biochemistry
  • Agricultural sciences;Boundary agriculture;Applied molecular and cellular biology
  • Biology;Biological Science;Molecular biology

Research Keywords

  • Yeast
  • C. elegans
  • Aging/lifespan
  • Calcium
  • Cell-cycle

Educational Activity

Course in Charge

  1. 2026, Liberal Arts Education Program1, Intensive, Sake Studies
  2. 2026, Liberal Arts Education Program1, 1Term, Introductory Seminar for First-Year Students
  3. 2026, Undergraduate Education, Second Semester, Experiments on Biotechnology II
  4. 2026, Undergraduate Education, Intensive, FoodProcess Engineering I
  5. 2026, Undergraduate Education, 4Term, Molecular biology I
  6. 2026, Undergraduate Education, Year, Graduation Thesis
  7. 2026, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 2Term, Cell Function Science A
  8. 2026, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Year, Seminar in Biotechnology
  9. 2026, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 1Term, Exercises in Biotechnology A
  10. 2026, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 2Term, Exercises in Biotechnology A
  11. 2026, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 3Term, Exercises in Biotechnology B
  12. 2026, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 4Term, Exercises in Biotechnology B
  13. 2026, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , Year, Research for Academic Degree Dissertation in Biotechnology
  14. 2026, Graduate Education (Doctoral Program) , Year, Research for Academic Degree Dissertation in Integrated Life Sciences
  15. 2026, Graduate Education (Master's Program) , 3Term, Introduction to Disease Models

Research Activities

Academic Papers

  1. Overproduction of a nuclear export signal in fission yeast promotes nuclear expansion through microtubules, FEBS Lett., 2026
  2. Nuclear enlargement induced by overexpression of nuclear export signal is associated with abnormal nuclear division in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, BIOLOGY OPEN, 14(11), 202511
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  3. Date, a major dried fruit, extends the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans, JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOENGINEERING, 140(1), 36-41, 202507
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  4. Nutrient control of growth and metabolism through mTORC1 regulation of mRNA splicing, MOLECULAR CELL, 84(23), 20241205
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  5. ★, Regulatory mechanism of cold-inducible diapause in Caenorhabditis elegans, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 15(1), 20240710
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  6. The fission yeast NDR kinase Orb6 and its signalling pathway MOR regulate cytoplasmic microtubule organization during the cell cycle, OPEN BIOLOGY, 14(3), 20240306
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  7. Importance and mechanisms of S-adenosylmethionine and folate accumulation in sake yeast, FEMS YEAST RESEARCH, 23, 20230104
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  8. Multifarious Translational Regulation during Replicative Aging in Yeast, JOURNAL OF FUNGI, 8(9), 202209
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  9. ★, S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine extends lifespan through methionine restriction effects, AGING CELL, 21(5), 202205
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  10. The sake yeast YHR032W/ERC1 allele contributes to the regulation of the tetrahydrofolate content in the folate synthetic pathway in sake yeast strains, BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 84(5), 1073-1076, 20200503
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  11. SKO1 deficiency extends chronological lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 83(8), 1473-1476, 20190803
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  12. Implications of maintenance of mother-bud neck size in diverse vital processes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae., Curr Genet., 65(1), 253-267, 201902
  13. Breeding of a cordycepin-resistant and adenosine kinase-deficient sake yeast strain that accumulates high levels of S-adenosylmethionine, BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 83(8), 1530-1537, 20190803
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  14. Role of nucleocytoplasmic transport in interphase microtubule organization in fission yeast, BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS, 503(2), 1160-1167, 20180905
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  15. Sake yeast YHR032W/ERC1 haplotype contributes to high S-adenosylmethionine accumulation in sake yeast strains, JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOENGINEERING, 123(1), 8-14, 201701
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  16. Identification of three signaling molecules required for calcineurin-dependent monopolar growth induced by the DNA replication checkpoint in fission yeast, BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS, 491(4), 883-889, 20170930
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  17. Evaluation of the comprehensive palatability of Japanese sake paired with dishes by multiple regression analysis based on subdomains, BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 81(8), 1598-1606, 2017
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  18. A genetic method to enhance the accumulation of S-adenosylmethionine in yeast, APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY, 101(4), 1351-1357, 201702
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  19. ★, Stimulating S-adenosyl-L-methionine synthesis extends lifespan via activation of AMPK, PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 113(42), 11913-11918, 20161018
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  20. Natural thioallyl compounds increase oxidative stress resistance and lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans by modulating SKN-1/Nrf, SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 6, 20160222
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  21. Identification of a mutation causing a defective spindle assembly checkpoint in high ethyl caproate-producing sake yeast strain K1801, BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 80(8), 1657-1662, 201608
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  22. Isolation of a spontaneous cerulenin-resistant sake yeast with both high ethyl caproate-producing ability and normal checkpoint integrity, BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 79(7), 1191-1199, 20150703
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  23. Screening for a gene deletion mutant whose temperature sensitivity is suppressed by FK506 in budding yeast and its application for a positive screening for drugs inhibiting calcineurin, BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 79(5), 790-794, 20150504
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  24. ★, mTORC2-SGK-1 acts in two environmentally responsive pathways with opposing effects on longevity, AGING CELL, 13(5), 869-878, 201410
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  25. Late-maturing cooking rice Sensyuraku has excellent properties, equivalent to sake rice, for high-quality sake brewing, BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 78(11), 1954-1962, 20141102
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  26. Pisiferdiol restores the growth of a mutant yeast suffering from hyperactivated Ca2+ signalling through calcineurin inhibition, FEMS YEAST RESEARCH, 13(1), 16-22, 201301
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  27. Polishing Properties of Sake Rice Koshitanrei for High-Quality Sake Brewing, BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 77(10), 2160-2165, 201310
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  28. Ras/cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase (PKA) Regulates Multiple Aspects of Cellular Events by Phosphorylating the Whi3 Cell Cycle Regulator in Budding Yeast, JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, 288(15), 10558-10566, 20130412
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  29. Evidence of Antagonistic Regulation of Restart from G(1) Delay in Response to Osmotic Stress by the Hog1 and Whi3 in Budding Yeast, BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 77(10), 2002-2007, 201310
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  30. Fission Yeast Leucine-Rich Repeat Protein Lrp1 Is Essential for Cell Morphogenesis as a Component of the Morphogenesis Orb6 Network (MOR), BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 77(5), 1086-1091, 201305
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  31. ★, TOR Signaling and Rapamycin Influence Longevity by Regulating SKN-1/Nrf and DAF-16/FoxO, CELL METABOLISM, 15(5), 713-724, 20120502
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  32. Implication of Ca2+ in the regulation of replicative life span of budding yeast, J. Biol. Chem., 286(33), 28681-28687, 20110801
  33. Identification of ricinoleic acid as an Inhibitor of Ca2+ signal-mediated cell-cycle regulation in yeast, FEMS Yeast Research, 10(1), 38-43, 20100201
  34. Combinatorial Gene Overexpression and Recessive Mutant Gene Introduction in Sake Yeast, BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 73(3), 633-640, 200903
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  35. Identification of Tup1 and Cyc8 mutations defective in the responses to osmotic stiress, BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS, 368(1), 50-55, 20080328
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  36. Inhibition of Ca2+-signal-dependent growth regulation by radicicol in budding yeast, BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 72(1), 132-138, 200801
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  37. Identification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Tub1 alpha-tubulin as a potential target for NKH-7, a cytotoxic 1-naphthol derivative compound, BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 72(4), 1023-1031, 200804
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  38. Physiological roles of calcineurin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with special emphasis on its roles in G2/M cell-cycle regulation., Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 71, 633-645, 20070401
  39. Involvement of calcineurin-dependent degradation of Yap1p in Ca2+-induced G(2) cell-cycle regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, EMBO REPORTS, 7(5), 519-524, 200605
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  40. Identification of Saccharomyces cerevisiaeribosomal protein L3 as a target of curularol, a G1-specific inhibitor of mammalian cells, Biosci. Biotechnol. Biocehm., 70, 2451-2459, 20060401
  41. Implication of Pkc1p protein kinase C is sustaining Cln2p level and polarized bud growth in response to calcium signaling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, J. Cell Sci., 118, 4219-4229, 20050401
  42. Role of histidine in conferrring tolerance to Ni2+ in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 69, 2343-2348, 20050401
  43. Mutational analysis of the yeast multidrug resistance ABC transporter Pdr5p with altered drug specificity, Gene to Cells, 10, 409-420, 20050401
  44. Involvement of Saccaromyces cerevisiae Pdr5p ATP-binding cassette transporter in calcium homeostasis, Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 69, 857-860, 20050401
  45. ★, Involvement of S-adenosylmethionine in G1 cell-cycle regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 101, 6086-6091, 20040401
  46. Effect of Ethanol on Cell Growth of Budding Yeast: Genes That Are Important for Cell Growth in the Presence of Ethanol, Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 68(4), 968-972, 20040401
  47. Identification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Isoleucyl-tRNA Synthetase as a Target of the G1-specific Inhibitor Reveromycin A, The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 277(32), 28810-28814, 20020801
  48. Fission yeast Mor2/Cps12, a protein similar to Drosophila Furry, is essential for cell morphogenesis and its mutation induces Wee1-dependent G(2) delay, EMBO JOURNAL, 21(18), 4863-4874, 20020916
    Link to Paper Search Results by DOI
  49. ★, GSK-3 kinase Mck1 and calcineurin coordinately mediate Hsl1 down-regulation by Ca2+ in budding yeast., EMBO J., 20, 1074-1085, 20010401
  50. A positive screening for drugs that specifically inhibit the Ca2+-signaling activity on the basis of the growth promoting effect on a yeast mutant with a peculiar phenotype, Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 64, 1942-1946, 20000401
  51. ★, Role of calcireurin and Mpk1 in regulating the onset of mitosis in budding yeast, Nature, 392, 303-306, 19980320
  52. Involvement of histidine permease (Hip1p) in manganese transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae., Mol. Gen. Genet., 259, 541-548, 19980401
  53. The involvement of the yeast multidrug resistance ATP-binding cassette superfamily proteins Pdr5 and Snq2 in cation resistance., FEBS Lett, 399, 317-320, 19960401
  54. A Method for Rapid Identification of the Sake Yeast with High Ethyl Caproate-producing Ability, 110(12), 820-826, 201512

Invited Lecture, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation

  1. Lifespan extension mediated by methionine metabolites, Masaki Mizunuma, The 37th Annual Meeting of the Thai Society for Biotechnology and International Conference Thailand, 2025/10/30, With Invitation, English, Thailand
  2. Mechanism of lifespan extension by methionine metabolites, Masaki Mizunuma, 2nd CORE to CORE INTERNATIONAL BIOSYMPOSIUM BALI-INDONESIA, 2025/10/16, With Invitation, English, BALI-INDONESIA
  3. C. elegans calcineurin modulates lifespan via SKN-1 signaling, 22nd International C. elegans Conference, 2019/06/22, Without Invitation, English, 22nd International C. elegans Conference, University of California, Los Angeles

Awards

  1. 2018/03/15, Award for Excellence to Authors Publishing in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry in 2017, The Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry, Evaluation of the comprehensive palatability of Japanese sake paired with dishes by multiple regression analysis based on subdomains.
  2. 2001/03, Award for Excellence to Authors Publishing in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry in 2000, The Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry, A positive screening for drugs that specifically inhibit the Ca2+-signaling activity on the basis of the growth-promotin

Patented

  1. Patent, JP4487066, 2010/04/09

External Funds

Acceptance Results of Competitive Funds

  1. 2025
  2. 2022, 2025
  3. 2019/10, 2023/03

Social Activities

History as Committee Members

  1. Microbial Cell Factories/Associate Editor, 2024/01, 2028/01, Springer Nature

Organizing Academic Conferences, etc.

  1. 酵母遺伝学フォーラム, 2015/, 2015/
  2. 2003/09
  3. 2002/07