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Dr. Yasuhiro Maejima’s paper entitled “Mst1-mediated phosphorylation of FoxO1 and C/EBP-β stimulates cell-protective mechanisms in cardiomyocytes” is published in Nature Communications.

July 2024:  This paper reports an unexpected observation that Mst1, a major component of the Hippo pathway and a pro-apoptotic kinase, promotes cell survival during stress conditions.

  • We show that Mst1 sequentially phosphorylates FoxO1 and C/EBP-b and induces dimerization/activation of C/EBP-b and transcription of pro-survival molecules, including MnSoD and Catalase. Mst1-induced phosphorylation of FoxO1 promotes dissociation of FoxO1 from the promoter of pro-apoptotic genes and induces binding to the promoter of pro-survival genes. FoxO1 (phosphorylated by Mst1 and dissociated from the FoxO1 binding sequence on the pro-apoptotic gens) now acts as an adapter for Mst1 to phosphorylate C/EBP-b, leading to dimerization and activation of C/EBP-b. Thus, Mst1 induces the conversion of FoxO1 from a pro-death to pro-survival molecule in cardiomyocytes. We believe that the Mst1-FoxO1-C/EBP-b pathway acts as a potent negative feedback mechanism to alleviate Mst1-induced apoptosis.

Lab News

  • Sapienza University Lecture, Rome

    December 2024: Dr. Sadoshima (pictured here with Maurizio Sorice and Sebastiano Sciarretta) gave a lecture at the Sapienzia University of Rome.

  • Summer BBQ Lab Gathering

    August 2024

  • Summer BBQ Lab Gathering

    June 2024

  • Asian Cardiovascular Symposium, Chicago

    July 2024: Current lab members Eunah Sung, Risa Mukai, and Samta Veera were recognized for their oral presentations during this symposium.

  • Hiroshima University School of Medicine Students Farewell Party

    July 2024: We bid farewell to our students from Hiroshima University School of Medicine. Thank you for all of your contributions!

  • Department Seminar Schedule

    2024: See Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine 2024 Seminar Schedule

  • International Conference on Hippo Signaling, Singapore

    November 2023: International Conference on Hippo Signaling in Developent, Disease, and New Therapies in Matrix, Biopolis, Singapore with Professor Kunliang Guan of Westlake University.

  • 2023 AHA Scientific Sessions, Philadelphia

    November 2023: Lab participants

  • Inter-Institutional Cardiovascular Retreat, NYC

    September 2023: Dr. Allen Tius, a postdoctoral fellow, participated in the 2nd Annual NYC Area Inter-Institutional Cardiovascular Retreat on September 14, 2023. His abstract was selected as an oral presentation.

  • Asian Cardiovascular Symposium, Boston

    July 2023: Ms. Eu-nah Sung, Dr. Kuwahara, and Dr. Shinichi Oka at the Asian Cardiovascular Symposium. Dr. Oka serves as a Session moderator.

  • Naoki Okamura, a medical student from Hiroshima University conducts short-term research project

    May 2023: Medical students from Hiroshima University School of Medicine conduct a 3-month lab rotation in our lab.

    Okamura says, “During my study at Rutgers, I investigated the role of LC3 and GABARAP in Autophagy under conditions of myocardial starvation. I learned not only the method of monitoring Autophagy, but also a research mindset, such as constructing a research strategy, discussing results, and presenting research. And also, the experiences I gained from engaging with researchers in the lab from diverse backgrounds and traveling and going to events during day off expanded my knowledge and were invaluable”.

  • CVBE Symposium, Kyoto

    May 2023: At Cardiovascular Bioengineering (CVBE) Symposium with Drs. Sakthivel Sadayappan (University of Cincinnati) and Yoshihiro Ishikawa (Yokohoma Ciy University)

  • CVBE Symposium, Kyoto

    May 2023: Drs. Inna Rabinovich-Nikitin and Lorrie Kirshenbaum.

  • Leducq Autophagy Network Meeting, NYC

    May 2022: After a long break by the pandemic, our Leducq Autophagy Network finally got together and conducted the final face-to-face meeting in New York. We invited Drs. Mondira Kundu, Congcong He, Shigeki Miyamoto, Abhinav Diwan and Lorrie Kirshenbaum as guest speakers.

    Leducq Sessions Program

  • Leducq Autophagy Network Meeting, NYC

    May 2022: Dinner with participants

Dr. Sadoshima receives an EJI Excellence in Medicine Award

May 2023: EJI Excellence in Medicine Gala

  • 2019 Dr. Jihoon Nah (Finalist) Melvin Marcus Award

    Congratulations to Dr. Jihoon Nah for becoming a Finalist for the Melvin Marcus Award at the AHA Scientific Sessions 2019 in Philadelphia.

  • 2017 Dr. Michinari Nakamura wins Katz Award

    Congratulations to Dr. Michinari Nakamura for winning the prestigious Louis N. and Arnold M. Katz Basic Research Prize at the 2017 AHA Scientific Sessions.

  • 2017 Dr. Shohei Ikeda (Finalist) Melvin Marcus Award

    Congratulations to Dr. Shohei Ikeda, finalist for the Melvin L. Marcus Young Investigator Award at the 2017 AHA Scientific Sessions.

  • 2016 Dr. Toshiro Saito (Finalist) Katz Award

    Dr. Toshiro Saito competed as one of five finalists for the AHA's Louis N. and Arnold M. Katz Prize for Young Investigators.

  • 2015 AHA Scientific Sessions

    Dr. Sadoshima with his former trainees, Drs. Nirmala Hariharan and Yanfei Yang.