Cell Conversion Technology Unit

Human somatic cells have the ability to convert (or reprogram) into another cell type by forced expression of defined factors. These converted cells are applicable in regenerative medicine, drug screening, cancer, and aging. My unit is focusing on the development of key technologies to achieve multitude of cell conversions using the single cell screening system. The system provides the rapid and reliable tool to identify combinations of transcription factors, noncoding RNAs and other epigenetic regulators involved in cell conversions.

Research Fields

Molecular Biology & Genetics / Computer Science

Research Subjects

• Single Cell Analysis
• Cell Reprogramming
• ncRNAs and Epigenetic

Publications

1. *Hasegawa R, Tomaru Y, De Hoon M, Suzuki H, Hayashizaki Y, Shin JW.
   "Identification of ZNF395 as a novel modulator of adipogenesis."
   Exp Cell Res. 2013 Feb 1;319(3):68-76.
2. *Shin JW, Suzuki T, Ninomiya N, Kishima M, Hasegawa Y, Kubosaki A, Yabukami H, Suzuki H, Hayashizaki Y.
   "Establishment of single-cell screening system for the rapid identification of transcriptional modulators involved in direct cell-reprogramming."
   Nucleic Acid Research. Aug 2012 Nov;40(21):e165.
3. Shin JW, Huggenberger R, Detmar M.
   "Transcriptional profiling of VEGF-A and VEGF-C target genes in lymphatic endothelium reveals endothelial-specific molecule-1 as a novel mediator of lymphangiogenesis."
   Blood. 2008 Sep 15;112(6):2318-26.
4. Shin JW, Min M, Larrieu-Lahargue F, Canron X, Nguyen L, Kunstfeld R, Henderson JE, Bikfalvi A, Detmar M, Hong YK.
   "Prox1 promotes lineage-specific expression of FGF receptor-3 in lymphatic endothelium: A role for FGF signaling in lymphangiogenesis."
   Mol Biol Cell. 2006 Feb;17(2):576-84.
5. Hong YK, Foreman K, Shin JW, Hirakawa J, Curry CL, Sage DR, Libermann T, Dezube BJ, Fingeroth JD, Detmar M.
   "Lymphatic re-programming of blood vascular endothelium by Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus."
   Nature Genetics. 2004 Jul;36(7):683-5.