Japanese
Yamaguchi University, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry

Faculty

OKAMOTO Shiki, PhD, DVM
Associate Professor, Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry

HIGURASHI Yasuo, PhD
Assistant Professor, Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry

HABARA Makoto, PhD, DVM
Assistant Professor, Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry


Our Lab

【Veterinary Physiology】

Veterinary physiology is the study of the organ function of various large animals and companion animals. This field of study involves the analysis of body trunk/tail movements, skeletal muscle functions, and neural control mechanisms of brain/spine, seen in the gait motion of quadrupedal animals.


【Veterinary Biochemistry】

Eukaryotic cells possess at least four distinct anti-tumor barriers, namely, DNA repair, cell cycle checkpoints, apoptosis, and premature senescence. To maintain genomic stability, these barriers must be tightly coordinated to minimize DNA damage. The loss of such barriers often results in cancer, genetic diseases or tissue aging. Our laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms that maintain genome stability. In particular, we are working on chromatin modification-dependent DNA damage responses, analysis of Chk1 target oncogenes and molecular examination of hematopoiesis regulated by histone variants. Our research team comprises specialists in medical chemistry, genome biology and clinical medicine. By combining expertise from different fields of medicine, we aim to develop novel methods for the treatment and prevention of cancer, in order to achieve the goal of “extension of healthy life expectancy.”



Research Interests

【Veterinary Physiology】

  • The trunk neural control



【Veterinary Biochemistry】

  • Functional analysis of chromatin modification-dependent maintenance of genome stability
  • Molecular analysis of Chk1 target oncogenes
  • Decoding the mechanisms of cancer cell growth for development of effective cancer treatment
  • Molecular analysis of hematopoiesis regulated by histone variants