ISHIKAWA Toru Professor

ThemeIntracellular regulation mechanisms and structure-function relations of epithelial ion channels and transporters.

My DreamIdentification of novel ion channels and transporters, and elucidation of their physiological functions

Belongs

Research Department/Department of Veterinary Medicine/Division of Veterinary Sciences/Section of Physiology and Pharmacology
Field General physiology, Cell physiology, Epithelial membrane transport, Molecular physiology of ion channel and transporter
Keyword Calcium-activated potassium channel, Epithelial sodium channel, Bicarbonate-permeable anion channel, Voltage-activated chloride channel, Divalent cation-permeable TRPM6/7 channel, Electrogenic sodium bicarbonate cotransporter, Electrogenic sodium phosphate cotransporter, Epithelial bicarbonate transport, Epithelial sodium transport, Epithelial tissue, Exocrine, Ruminant parotid gland acinar cells, Porcine tracheal ciliated epithelial cells

Introduction

My lab focuses on the intracellular regulatory mechanism of ion transport proteins functionally expressed in exocrine glands, such as salivary glands, and epithelial cells. I'd like to move my research forward by comprehensively using electrophysiological, molecular and cell biological methods and organ and tissue perfusion methods. For example, one theme is to identify membrane transport proteins (i.e.,ion channels and transporters)  that exist in the parotid gland of ruminants such as bovines. The proteins enable amazing membrane transport (particularly of bicarbonate ions and phosphate ions). Another theme is the identification of intracellular regulatory proteins that control the membrane transport proteins. In addition to these studies, I hope to contribute to the understanding and treatment of human diseases caused by abnormalities of  structure and function of ion channels and transporters (i.e., channelopathies and transportopathy) through basic studies on cell physiology using porcine tracheal epithelium and ciliated epithelial cells.

List of current research topics

  • Molecular and cellular regulatory mechanisms of electrogenic sodium bicarbonate cotransporter functionally expressed in bovine parotid acinar cells
  • Electrophysiological properties and molecular basis of potassium channels and divalent cation-permeable ion channels functioally expressed in bovine parotid acinar cells
  • Electrophysiological properties and molecular basis of potassium channels and epithelial sodium channel involved in electrogenic sodium transport in ciliated epithelial cells of porcine trachea
  • Calcium-activated potassium transport pathway functionally expressed in the basolateral membrane of rat mandibular acinar cells
Related industries Medicine, Veterinary Medicine
Affiliated academic society Physiological Society of Japan, Japanese Society of Veterinary Science
Academic degree D.Vet.
License Veterinarian
Self introduction

I've been interested in general physiology and cell physiology since my school days, and I've studied the functions and intracellular regulatory mechanisms of ion channels and transporters, which are important for substance transport in epithelial tissues and epithelial cells.

Room addressGeneral Research Building 1
Room numberS1105-1
Mail address torui atmark obihiro.ac.jp