University of Tokyo, RCAST, Division of Metabolic Medicine

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SAKAI LABORATORY

Juro Sakai, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of the University of Tokyo, RCAST,
Division of Metabolic Medicine

Juro Sakai

Title

Professor

Business Address

Division of Metabolic Medicine,
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST),
University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku Tokyo, 153-8904
Tel: +81-3-5452-5472, 5471
Fax: +81-3- 5452-5429
E-mail: jmsakai-tky [at] umin.ac.jp  (Not related to ZZZZ [at] gmail.com)

Dr. Sakai’s Assisitance

Minori YOSHIO yoshio.minori [at] lsbm.org

Education

1982-1988 Tohoku University School of Medicine, Japan MD
1990-1994 Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine PhD

Profile

1994-1998 Postdoctoral Fellowship- Department of Molecular Genetics, UT Southwestern Medical Ctr. (Drs. Goldstein & Brown)
2000-2002 Assistant professor- Division of Nephrology, Endocrinology, and Vascular Medicine, Department of internal medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
2002-2006 Group leader- Yanagisawa Orphan Receptor Project, Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
2003-2009 Project Professor- The University of Tokyo at Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), Laboratory for Systems Biology and Medicine, division of endocrinology and metabolism (LSBM)
2009-present Professor- The University of Tokyo, RCAST, Division of Metabolic Medicine
2017-present Professor -Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

Biography

Juro Sakai, M.D., Ph.D. is Professor of the University of Tokyo, Division of Metabolic Medicine. Dr. Sakai received his M.D. and Ph.D. from Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine. Before coming to the University of Tokyo, he was an assistant professor in Tohoku University School of Medicine and a group leader of Yanagisawa Orphan Receptor Project (JST, ERATO) (Project leader Professor Masashi Yanagisawa at UT Southwestern Medical Ctr.). He has been on University of Tokyo faculty since 2003.

Dr Sakai’s research is focused on mechanism of lipid metabolism. During his PhD course, he discovered the new lipoprotein receptor that specifically binds to very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) which is now called VLDL receptor. After earning a Ph.D., he joined Drs. Goldstein and Brown’s lab as a post doc. where he revealed that the transcription factor called sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP), the key factor for cholesterol feedback regulation, is activated through two sequential proteolytic cleavages. This new type of processing machinery is now called RIP (regulated intramembrane proteolysis). He also discovered the protease that clips SREBP in a sterol dependent manner by somatic cell genetics and expression cloning.

In his laboratory, he has been now focusing on transcriptional regulation of energy expenditure and adipogenesis. He revealed that the agonistic activation of a fascinating new receptor PPAR (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor) delta enhances the fatty acid beta-oxidation and in skeletal muscle and attenuates metabolic syndrome. His laboratory is now particularly interested in epigenomic regulations of adipogenesis, energy balance, and the development of obesity.

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