Japanese
Yamaguchi University, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Pharmacology
<Veterinary Biochemistry・Veterinary Physiology>

Faculty

SATO Koichi, PhD, DVM
Professor, Veterinary Pharmacology

OHAMA Takashi, PhD, DVM
Associate Professor, Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology

HIGURASHI Yasuo, PhD
Assistant Professor, Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology

HABARA Makoto, PhD, DVM
Assistant Professor, Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistory


Our Lab

【Veterinary Pharmacology】
<Investigate the microenvironment of the intestinal mucosa>

Because the digestive organs are connected to the outside the body directly, is exposed to various alien substances and bacteria, a food antigen. Therefore there are many serious diseases that intestinal epithelial cells are related to, for example, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and diarrhea. The intestinal epithelium is converted into an always new cell by repeating controlled death and regeneration, and plays a role as a primary breakwater for those alien. We think that this intestinal epithelium is regulated not only by itself, but also by the micro environment around the cell (it is called "Niche"). We focus on to the intestinal epithelium and myofibroblasts to elucidate the control mechanism, and study about these cells and niche. In addition, we study about the phosphorylation of protein playing as a switch of the signal transduction in the cell from the viewpoint of dephosphorylation control (phosphatase control) mechanism.


【Veterinary Biochemistry】

Eukaryotic cells possess at least four distinct anti-tumor barriers, namely, DNA repair, cell cycle checkpoints, apoptosis, and premature senescence. To maintain genomic stability, these barriers must be tightly coordinated to minimize DNA damage. The loss of such barriers often results in cancer, genetic diseases or tissue aging. Our laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms that maintain genome stability. In particular, we are working on chromatin modification-dependent DNA damage responses, analysis of Chk1 target oncogenes and molecular examination of hematopoiesis regulated by histone variants. Our research team comprises specialists in medical chemistry, genome biology and clinical medicine. By combining expertise from different fields of medicine, we aim to develop novel methods for the treatment and prevention of cancer, in order to achieve the goal of “extension of healthy life expectancy.”


【Veterinary Physiology】

Veterinary physiology is the study of the organ function of various large animals and companion animals. This field of study involves the analysis of body trunk/tail movements, skeletal muscle functions, and neural control mechanisms of brain/spine, seen in the gait motion of quadrupedal animals.



Research Interests

【Veterinary Pharmacology】

  • Micro-environment consist of mucosal epithelial cells and myofibroblast.
  • Physiological and pathophysiological roles of protease-activated receptors.
  • Control mechanism of autophagy by Type2A phosphatase.
  • Role of Type2A phosphatase in cell canceration mechanism.


【Veterinary Biochemistry】

  • Functional analysis of chromatin modification-dependent maintenance of genome stability
  • Molecular analysis of Chk1 target oncogenes
  • Decoding the mechanisms of cancer cell growth for development of effective cancer treatment
  • Molecular analysis of hematopoiesis regulated by histone variants



【Veterinary Physiology】

  • The trunk neural control







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