NARA Institute of Science and Technology

Mass-less spinning UV-vis photon swaps hand of polymers (January 8, 2015)

Historically, an idea of absolute asymmetric synthesis (AAS), meaning synthesis of desired chiral molecule (one of two mirror image molecules) using circularly polarized light (CPL) source without any chemical influence, was first inferred by...

Developent and evaluation of OpenFlow/SDN based network system applicable for such a large scale disaster. (May 15, 2014)

-for an experimentation on the latest NEXCO-WEST traffic control system-At the Graduate School of Information Science of the Nara Institute of Science and Technology, a group headed by Professor Kazutoshi Fujikawa, Associate Professor Atsuo Inomata and Assistant Professor Kenji Ohira at Internet architecture laboratory...

Organic solar cells—Efficiency enhancement by a multi-layer configuration (November 25, 2014)

The group of Prof. Hiroko Yamada in Graduate School of Materials Science has, in collaboration with Prof. Ken-ichi Nakayama’s group in Yamagata University, developed a unique approach to make organic solar cells that contain three layers...

Elucidation of the On/Off Switch for the Catalytic Reaction of Hydrogen-Decomposition and Synthesis Enzyme “Hydrogenase” (October 16, 2014)

Hydrogenase catalyzes the reversible cleavage of H2 (Figure 1). It is one of the most highly studied enzymes, with promising applications in future energy technologies. The collaborative research group of Prof. Shun Hirota and...

Clarifying the Mechanism of Protein Insertion into the Cytoplasmic Membrane (April 17, 2014)

Key points ● Determining the crystal structure of YidC, a membrane protein insertase that inserts proteins into the cytoplasmic membrane, for the first time in the world...

Entire suite of recognition molecules to select unrelated mates have been identified in Petunia—Molecular and evolutionary analysis of plant non-self recognition system (January 9, 2015)

Self/non-self recognition is a fundamental requirement of life as represented by immune system in vertebrates. Plants also use such a self/non-self recognition system, known as self-incompatibility (SI), to prevent inbreeding...

Aacquisition of a programmed cell death system was the key to plants coming ashore! (March 24, 2014)

- The moss mechanism that creates cells for carrying water and supporting structure is clarified for the first time - The research group of Prof. Taku Demura and his colleagues in Graduate School of Biological Sciences...

Structure of the human Cereblon-DDB1-lenalidomide complex reveals basis for responsiveness to thalidomide analogs(August 12, 2014)

Half a century has passed since the initial use of thalidomide caused a worldwide medical disaster, resulting in more than 10,000 babies with severe birth defects such as phocomelia with undeveloped limbs. Notwithstanding the growing clinical interest in the use of thalidomide and its derivatives as potential immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) now widely used in cancer therapy,...

A Flexible Thermopower Sheet - Bipolar CNT Thermoelectrics for Wearable Power Source -(November 26, 2013)

Prof. Kawai, Assist. Prof. Nonoguchi, and colleagues successfully developed a fully-flexible, high-performance thermopower sheet that can cover and adhere closely to any round surface such as pipes...

Cytokinins control endocycle onset by promoting the expression of an APC/C activator in Arabidopsis roots(September 13, 2013)

Plant roots respond to various internal and external signals and adjust themselves to changes of environmental conditions...

Method for Simultaneous Speech Translation achieves 20% Speed Increase(August 27, 2013)

Researchers have developed new technology that allows for automatic speech translation to start translating before the speaker has finished a sentence,...

Structural and functional analysis of the yeast N-acetyltransferase Mpr1 involved in oxidative stress tolerance via proline metabolism (June 2, 2013)

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an important microorganism not only in basic science as a model for higher eukaryotes like human...

Successful Fabrication of Highly Reliable IGZO TFT: Development of High Quality Gate Insulator with Next Generation Stability (May 30, 2013)

For next generation devices such as smart phones or tablet computers, high performance thin film transistors are indispensable. . ...

World's First Demonstration of Oxide Semiconductor Switch Fabricated by Solution Process (April 17, 2013)

World's First Demonstration of Oxide Semiconductor Switch Fabricated by Solution Process: Twice as Fast Operation was Achieved through Low Temperature Annealing, which will Contribute to the Realization of Flexible Displays.

An OsCEBiP/OsCERK1-OsRacGEF1-OsRac1 Module Is an Essential Early Component of Chitin-Induced Rice Immunity (April 18, 2013)

In plants, perception of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) initiates immune response, MAMP-triggered immunity (MTI)...

Synthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids in the epidermis controls plant organ growth by restricting cell proliferation (April 10, 2013)

The epidermis functions as an important interface with the environment, but it is also essential in the establishment and maintenance of the plant body...

Endoplasmic reticulum stress sensor plays an important role in the production of mucin that protects the colonic mucosa(Feb. 07, 2013)

The surface of gastrointestinal tracts is covered with slimy substance called mucus that protects the tracts from the environmental stimuli and bacterial infection...

Mechanism for signal-force transduction in axon outgrowth(March. 01, 2013)

Soluble guidance cues can direct cellular protrusion and migration by modulating adhesion and cytoskeletal dynamics...

Highly efficient electrochromic molecular material for future ultra-low power consumption smart-windows (December. 06, 2012)

Prof. Nakashima and Kawai in Graduate School of Materials Science, NAIST, have recently invented a new photo-electrochromic molecular material ....

Mechanism mediating plasma membrane expansion for axon outgrowth (September. 12, 2012)

Throughout axon outgrowth, neurons undergo dramatic expansion of the plasma membrane....

Limonene loves polymers.(June. 27, 2012)

Limonene, producing in orange peel and mint leaf, is well-known as one of chiral bioresources...

Treatment of spinal cord injuri by transplantation of human neuroepithelial-like stem cells derived from iPS cell.(March. 14, 2012)

The efficacy of transplanting neural stem cells(NSCs) derived from human induces pluripotent stem cells(hiPS0NSCs)...

The World's First Robot System for Clothing Assistance!(Oct. 26, 2011)

In Japan's "super aging society," an insufficient number of professional caregivers is generating high expectations ...

A new player for DNA demethylation and genomic imprinting in plants .(Sep. 25, 2011)

DNA methylation/ demethylation plays essential roles in the control of gene expression ...

Discovery of a gene that can reprogram somatic plant cells to early embryonic status .(Aug 1, 2011)

Development of a multicellular organism usually starts from a single fertilized egg, the zygote. How this single cell can yield ...

Mechanism for fine-tuning of the biological clock that controls animal development.(July 28, 2011)

Repeated structure of axial skeleton is the most characteristic structure of vertebrate animals. It consists of...

Nintendo 3DS promotes science by projecting stereo photograph of atomic arrangement(July 11, 2011)

A portable game machine "Nintendo 3DS" opens a way to view atomic arrangement with stereoscopic three-dimensional effects for children....

Professor Yoshiko Takahashi (Graduate School of Biological Sciences) contributed an editorial to Science magazine.(June 10, 2011)

Professor Yoshiko Takahashi was in charge of writing an editorial for the Science, ...

Programmed induction of endoreduplication by DNA damage in plants(May 24, 2011)

Professor Masaaki Umeda and his team members have discovered that plants undergo a programmed endoreduplicative response...

Mobile small RNA as a means to sense cell-cell distance and control cell differentiation status.(May 17, 2011)

Several classes of RNA molecules play essential roles in converting genetic information to protein products....

Sequence specific error profile of Illumina Sequencer has been identified. Toward the higher throughput sequencing of DNA(May 17, 2011)

The emergence of so-called Next Generation Sequencers (NGS) is enabling the analysis of DNA/RNA sequence with much less cost and effort than ever. Among others...

Prof. Ko Shimamoto, Prof. Akiho Yokota and Prof. Hitoshi Kawaguchi received the Prizes for Science and Technology by MEXT on April 11, 2011.(April 11, 2011)

Prof. Ko Shimamoto, Prof. Akiho Yokota and Prof. Hitoshi Kawaguchi were granted the science and technology award (Research Category) by minister of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)