Laboratory for Growth Control Signaling

The processes of animal development, including organ size and body size, are genetically predetermined, but these processes are also influenced by environmental factors such as nutrition. Linking the nutrient sensory system to an endocrine signaling network allows organisms to control the timing of cell proliferation and differentiation during animal development. Our team's research aims to shed light on the molecular basis for growth control and developmental timing at the cellular and tissue/organ level using Drosophila as a model system.

Research Subjects

• Regulatory mechanisms for cell proliferation during animal development
• Regulatory mechanisms for developmental timing
• Molecular mechanisms for nutrient sensing

Publications

1. Okamoto, N., Nakamori, R., Murai, T., Yamauchi, Y., Masuda, A. & Nishimura, T.:
   "A secreted decoy of InR antagonizes insulin/IGF signaling to restrict body growth in Drosophila."
   Genes Dev. 27: 87-97. (2013)
2. Okamoto, N., Nishimori, Y. & Nishimura, T.:
   "Conserved role for the Dachshud protein with Drosophila Pax6 homolog Eyeless in insulin expression."
   Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 109: 2406-2411. (2012)
3. Wirtz-Peitz, F., Nishimura, T. & Knoblich, J.A.:
   "Linking cell cycle to asymmetric divisions: Aurora-A phosphorylates the Par complex to regulate Numb localization."
   Cell. 135: 161-173. (2008)
4. Nishimura, T. & Kaibuchi, K.:
   "Numb controls integrin endocytosis for directional cell migration with aPKC and PAR-3."
   Dev. Cell. 13: 15-28. (2007)
5. Nishimura, T., Yamaguchi, T., Tokunaga, A., Hara, A., Hamaguchi, T., Kato, K., Iwamatsu, A., Okano, H. & Kaibuchi, K.:
   "Role of Numb in dendritic spine development with a Cdc42 GEF interserctin and EphB2."
   Mol. Biol. Cell. 17: 1273-1285. (2006)
6. Nishimura, T., Yamaguchi, T., Kato, K., Yoshizawa, M., Nabeshima, Y., Ohno, S., Hoshino, M. & Kaibuchi, K.:
   "PAR-6-PAR-3 mediates Cdc42-induced Rac activation through the Rac GEFs STEF/Tiam1."
   Nat. Cell Biol. 7: 270-277. (2005)