Prof. Tetsuya Higashiyama, Vice Director of the ITbM has received the 20th Yomiuri Techno Forum Gold Medal Prize.
The Yomiuri Techno Forum was founded in 2011, and have provided support for the development of science and technology in Japan. The organization selects three researchers annually who have shown outstanding achievements.
About Prof. Tetsuya Higashiyama
Tetsuya Higashiyama (41) Vice-Director of ITbM, Nagoya University
Email: [email protected]
Higashiyama is one of the most recognized plant biologists focusing on the identification of key molecules of plant reproduction. In particular, his discovery of the long-sought (~140 years) pollen tube attractant molecule "LURE", which is essential for plant reproduction, has secured his position as a world-renowned biologist. The identification of LURE peptides provide us with a major breakthrough to study and control pollen tube guidance of flowering plants and to break reproductive barriers. Moreover, he has also made significant technical development of micro-genomics and live cell imaging. Currently, he serves as one of the youngest directors of prestigious ERATO funding program supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency. He will be involved mainly in the development of molecules that can overcome species barriers as well as innovative bio-imaging tools, collaborating with the groups of Yamaguchi, Irle, Torii, Itami, Ooi, Crudden, and Bode.
Two recent research highlights include
Plants that Save the World: Fertilization Control and Production of New Plant Species
"Independent control by each female gamete prevents the attraction of multiple pollen tubes" Daisuke Maruyama, Yuki Hamamura, Hidenori Takeuchi, Daichi Susaki, Moe Nishimaki, Daisuke Kurihara, Ryushiro D. Kasahara, Tetsuya Higashiyama, Dev. Cell, 25, 3, 317-323 (2013). DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2013.03.013
Breakthrough for designed hybridization of plants where Prof. Tetsuya Higashiyama and his research group have found the key molecule to overcome interspecific barriers in plant.
“A species-specific cluster of defensin-like genes encodes diffusible pollen tube attractants in Arabidopsis” Hidenori Takeuchi, Tetsuya Higashiyama. PLoS Biol., 10, 12, e1001449 (2012). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001449