Biochemistry I
Outline
The Department of Biochemistry I was established in 1974 by Professor OKADA Toshihiko, the founding chair. In 1992, Professor DATE Takayasu succeeded him as the second chair, and Professor IWABUCHI Kuniyoshi became the third chair in 2009.
Our research focuses on the cellular effects of various stressors, including DNA damage, with a particular emphasis on genome stability, associated cellular responses, and cell fate.
In education, we collaborate with the Department of Biochemistry II to teach biochemistry and molecular biology to first- and second-year medical students.
e-mail: biochem1@kanazawa-med.ac.jp
Faculty
Professor and Chair
Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Secretary
TANIHARA Kiyomi
Research Achievements
Sakasai R, Iwabuchi K. Processing of DNA Topoisomerase II-DNA-Protein Crosslinks Associated with Anticancer Drugs. Genes Cells. 2026 Jan; 31 (1): e70076.
Sakasai R, Sunatani Y, Matsui T, Iwabuchi K. Valosin-containing protein mediates DNA-dependent protein kinase activation in response to DNA topoisomerase II-associated DNA double-strand breaks. J Biochem. 2025 178 51-60.
Sunatani Y, Sakasai R, Matsui T, Iwabuchi K. 53BP1 regulates the self-renewal ability of neural stem/progenitor cells through modulating mitochondrial homeostasis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2024 734 150776.
Kurashima K, Kamikawa Y, Tsubouchi T. Embryonic stem cells maintain high origin activity and slow forks to coordinate replication with cell cycle progression. EMBO Rep. 2024 25 3757-3776.
Sakasai R, Matsui T, Sunatani Y, Iwabuchi K. UbcH5-dependent activation of DNA-dependent protein kinase in response to replication-mediated DNA double-strand breaks. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2023 668 42-48.
Sakasai R, Wakasugi M, Matsui T, Sunatani Y, Saijo M, Matsunaga T, Iwabuchi K. Camptothecin compromises transcription recovery and cell survival against cisplatin and ultraviolet irradiation regardless of transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair. DNA Repair 2022 113 103318.
External Research Funding
Kurashima K. Elucidation of the regulatory mechanisms of DNA replication in mammalian pluripotent stem cells. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) 2025-2027.
Sakasai R. Development of a chemotherapy model for secondary cancer prevention by suppressing chromosomal translocation. The Hokkoku Cancer Foundation. 2025.
Sakasai R. Analysis of a new pathway for genomic instability with nuclear fragmentation mediated by 53BP1. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) 2024-2026.
Matsui T. Elucidation of a new function of the intracellular bridging molecule Plectin in the radiation-induced DNA damage response. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) 2023-2025
Sunatani Y. DNA repair protein 53BP1-mediated mechanism of CD47 clustering and phagocytosis of cancer cells. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) 2022-2024.