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メンバー紹介

Akio Kihara Professor

Teaching Subjects: Biochemistry I and II

Curriculum vitae

1993.3. Bachelor of Science in Chemistry; Department of Science, Kyoto University
1995.3. Master of Science in Chemistry; Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University
1998.3. Ph. D. in Science; Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University
1998.4.–1999.3. Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Kyoto University
1999.4.–2000.12. Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, National Institute for Basic Biology
2001.1.–2005.3. Research Associate, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University
2005.4.–2007.3. Assistant Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University
2007.4.–2008.3. Associate Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University
2008.4.–present Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University
2021.4.–2025.3. Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University

Awards

2005 Young Investigator Award of the Japanese Biochemical Society
2014 Hokkaido University President's Award for Research
2015 JSC Award (Japanese Society for Ceramides)
2022 KOSE Cosmetology Incentive Award (KOSE Cosmetology Research Foundation)

Academic activities

President of Japanese Society for Ceramides

Grant acquisition

  1. Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory): Molecular mechanisms underlying lipid polarity gradient formation in the tear film lipid layer for dry eye prevention (JSPS KAKENHI JP25K22534; FY2025–FY2026)
  2. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S): Formation of biological barriers by diverse ceramides (JSPS KAKENHI JP22H04986; FY2022–FY2027)
  3. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A): Molecular mechanisms of metabolic pathways generating and maintainingceramide diversity and diseases caused by their disruption (JSPS KAKENHI JP18H03976; FY2018–FY2022)
  4. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas: Molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of biological functions by very-long-chain lipids and diseases caused by their disruption (JSPS KAKENHI JP18H04664; FY2018–FY2020)
  5. AMED-CREST: Molecular mechanisms of lipid-mediated body surface barrier formation (AMED 15665414; FY2015–FY2021)
  6. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A): Production and metabolic mechanisms of very-long-chain fatty acids (JSPS KAKENHI JP26251010; FY2014–FY2018)
  7. Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research: Molecular mechanisms underlying sensing and transduction of lipid asymmetry (JSPS KAKENHI JP25650059; FY2013–FY2015)
  8. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas: Molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of protein functions by palmitoylation and diseases caused by its disruption (JSPS KAKENHI JP25117701; FY2013–FY2015)
  9. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas: Identification of genes involved in sphingosine-1-phosphate metabolism (JSPS KAKENHI JP25116701; FY2013–FY2015)
  10. Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research: Molecular mechanisms of lipid asymmetry sensors and intracellular signaling (JSPS KAKENHI JP23657120; FY2011–FY2013)
  11. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas: Molecular mechanisms underlying sphingosine-1-phosphate metabolic pathways and the pathogenesis of Sjögren–Larsson syndrome (JSPS KAKENHI JP23116501; FY2011–FY2013)
  12. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B): Molecular mechanisms of very-long-chain fatty acid production and pathophysiology (JSPS KAKENHI JP23370057; FY2011–FY2014)
  13. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Exploratory Research: Novel regulatory mechanisms of heterotrimeric G protein–coupled receptors by lipid modification (JSPS KAKENHI JP20659007; FY2008–FY2010)
  14. Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A): Molecular mechanisms underlying intracellular transport of phosphatidylinositol by the Phs1 family (JSPS KAKENHI JP20687008; FY2008–FY2011)
  15. Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A): Regulatory mechanisms of membrane lipid asymmetry and lipid asymmetry signaling (JSPS KAKENHI JP17687011; FY2005–FY2007)
  16. Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B): Functions and dynamics of intracellular sphingosine-1-phosphate (JSPS KAKENHI JP15770078; FY2003–FY2005)
  17. Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellows: Regulation of membrane ATPase FtsH by the regulatory proteins HflKC (JSPS KAKENHI JP10-8969; FY1998–FY2001)
  18. Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellows: Identification and functional analysis of the SecY degradation system (JSPS KAKENHI JP7-5188; FY1995–FY1998)

Publications

  1. Takahashi T, Otsuka K, Sassa T, Kihara A. (2026) Acyl/alkyl-glycerone phosphate reductase DHRS7 is involved in the production of distinct plasmalogen species from DHRS7B. J Cell Sci, in press.
  2. Kuribayashi K, Jojima K, Yamamoto M, Takeda M, Kihara A. (2026) Detailed composition of wax esters in mouse sebum and the involvement of FAR2 and AWAT2. iScience, 29, 114836.
  3. Nobumoto W, Naganuma T, Nozaka N, Ohno Y, Kihara A. (2026) Acid ceramidase ASAH1 is a key regulator of epidermal ceramide levels and composition. J Biol Chem, 302, 111178.
  4. Tada H, Jojima K, Hiranuma T, Sassa T, Kihara A. (2026) Time-dependent changes in meibum lipid composition and progression of dry eye following disruption of the fatty acid elongase Elovl1. J Biol Chem, 302, 111160.
  5. Tajiri M, Takeichi T, Teye K, Fukaura R, Sugiyama T, Ohno Y, Shimauchi K, Yamashiro C, Tsutsumi M, Natsuaki Y, Tanahashi K, Koga H, Ishii N, Kihara A, Hamada T, Akiyama M, Nakama T. (2026) Susceptibility to dermatophytosis in SDR9C7-nonsyndromic epidermal differentiation disorder: Observation of cutaneous inflammation involving IRF4 and IL-17. J Dermatol, 53, 149-154.
  6. Terai M, Jojima K, Ogawa-Sawai M, Kihara A. (2025) Comprehensive lipid analysis of human meibum and tears. Sci Rep, 15, 35556.
  7. Takahashi T, Otsuka K, Sassa T, Kihara A. (2025) Acyl-CoA reductase Far1 deficiency impairs ether lipid production and hypomyelination in mouse brains. Mol Cell Biol, 45, 495-510.
  8. Zhou H, Li J, Liu S, Diaz MB, Wang Q, Doud EH, Smith-Kinnaman W, Gray DA, Shirai S, Jojima K, Kihara A, Zhaom B, Turner MJ. (2025) Lipase M is essential for skin barrier function in mice. Exp Dermatol, 34, e70133.
  9. Kato S, Takeichi T, Jojima K, Kato M, Omi M, Tanahashi K, Otsuka A, Muro Y, Kihara A, Akiyama M. (2025) The first reported Japanese case of PNPLA1-nonsyndromic epidermal differentiation disorder (PNPLA1-nEDD) associated with an unreported 92-base-pair duplication variant. Exp Dermatol, 34, e70130.
  10. Tamazawa A, Naganuma T, Otsuka K, Takahashi T, Sassa T, Kihara A. (2025) Fatty acyl-CoA reductase FAR1 is essential for the testicular seminolipid synthesis required for spermatogenesis and male fertility. J Biol Chem, 301, 108538.
  11. Hiranuma T, Sassa T, Kihara A. (2025) Relationship between time-dependent epidermal ceramide composition changes and skin barrier function in adult mice. Mol Biol Cell, 36, ar57.
  12. Akiyama F, Takahashi N, Ueda Y, Tada S, Takeuchi N, Ohno Y, Shimada M, Kihara A. (2024) Correlations between skin condition parameters and ceramide profiles in the stratum corneum of healthy individuals. Int J Mol Sci, 25, 8291.
  13. Yamaji M, Ohno Y, Shimada M, Kihara A. (2024) Alteration of epidermal lipid composition as a result of deficiency in the magnesium transporter Nipal4. J Lipid Res, 300, 105656.
  14. Hagihara H, et al. (2024) Large-scale animal model study uncovers altered brain pH and lactate levels as a transdiagnostic endophenotype of neuropsychiatric disorders involving cognitive impairment. eLife, 12, 89376.
  15. Kato R, Takenaka Y, Ohno Y, Kihara A. (2024) Catalytic mechanism of trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductases in the fatty acid elongation cycle and its cooperative action with fatty acid elongases. J Biol Chem, 300, 105656.
  16. Yamamoto Y, Sassa T, Kihara A. (2024) Comparison of skin barrier abnormalities and epidermal ceramide profiles among three ω-O-acylceramide synthesis-deficient mouse strains. J Dermatol Sci, 113, 10-17.
  17. Ohno Y, Nakamura T, Iwasaki T, Katsuyama A, Ichikawa S, Kihara A. (2023) Determining the structure of protein-bound ceramides, essential lipids for skin barrier function. iScience, 26, 108248.
  18. Mori K, Naganuma T, Kihara A. (2023) Role of 2-hydroxy acyl-CoA lyase HACL2 in odd-chain fatty acid production via α-oxidation in vivo. Mol Biol Cell, in press.
  19. Jojima K, Kihara A. (2023) Metabolism of sphingadiene and characterization of the sphingadiene-producing enzyme FADS3. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids, 159335.
  20. Hirano Y, Ohno Y, Kubota Y, Fukagawa T, Kihara A, Haraguchi T, Hiraoka Y. (2023) Ceramide synthase homolog Tlc4 maintains nuclear envelope integrity via its Golgi translocation. J Cell Sci, 136, jcs260923.
  21. Sassa T, Kihara A. (2023) Involvement of ω-O-acylceramides and protein-bound ceramides in oral permeability barrier formation. Cell Rep, 42, 112363.
  22. Ota A, Morita H, Naganuma T, Miyamoto M, Jojima K, Nojiri K, Matsuda J, Kihara A. (2023) Bifunctional DEGS2 has higher hydroxylase activity toward substrates with very-long-chain fatty acids in the production of phytosphingosine-ceramides. J Biol Chem, 104603.
  23. Tamura Y, Sassa T, Nishizawa T, Kihara A. (2023) Incomplete elongation of ultra-long-chain polyunsaturated acyl-CoAs by the fatty acid elongase ELOVL4 in spinocerebellar ataxia type 34. Mol Cell Biol, 43, 85-101.
  24. Bhaduri S, Aguayo A, Ohno Y, Proietto M, Jung J, Wang I, Kandel R, Singh N, Ibrahim I, Fulzele A, Bennett EJ, Kihara A, Neal SE. (2023) An ERAD-independent role for rhomboid pseudoprotease Dfm1 in mediating sphingolipid homeostasis. EMBO J, 42, e112275.
  25. Takeichi T, Ohno Y, Tanahashi K, Ito Y, Shiraishi K, Utsunomiya R, Yoshida S, Ikeda K, Nomura H, Morizane S, Sayama K, Ogi T, Muro Y, Kihara A, Akiyama M. (2022) Ceramide analysis in combination with genetic testing may provide a precise diagnosis for self-healing collodion babies. J Lipid Res, 100308.
  26. Hamada Y, Sasaki L, Uehara H, Suzuki T, Kinoshita S, Otsuka K, Kihara A, Yamaguchi Y, Miyake T, Doi M. (2022) Optimising the method for visualising mouse meibomian gland using eyelid whole-mount lipid staining. Ocul Surf, 26, 268-270.
  27. Arai A, Takeichi T, Wakamoto H, Sassa T, Ito Y, Murase Y, Ogi T, Akiyama M, Kihara A. (2022) Ceramide profiling of stratum corneum in Sjögren-Larsson syndrome. J Dermatol Sci, 107, 114-122.
  28. Nohara T, Ohno Y, Kihara A. (2022) Impaired production of skin barrier lipid acylceramides and abnormal localization of PNPLA1 due to ichthyosis-causing mutations in PNPLA1. J Dermatol Sci, 107, 89-94.
  29. Suzuki M, Ohno Y, Kihara A. (2022) Whole picture of human stratum corneum ceramides, including the chain-length diversity of long-chain bases. J Lipid Res, 63, 100235.
  30. Takahashi T, Turker S, Sassa T, Akcapinar GB, Yararbas K, Susguna S, Iseri SAU, Kihara A, Akcakaya NH. (2022) Hypomyelinating spastic dyskinesia and ichthyosis caused by a homozygous splice site mutation leading to exon skipping in ELOVL1. Brain Dev, 44, 391-400.
  31. Otsuka K, Sawai M, Kihara A. (2022) Formation of fatty alcohols―components of meibum lipids―by the fatty acyl-CoA reductase FAR2 is essential for dry eye prevention. FASEB J, 36, e22216.
  32. Nojiri K, Fudetani S, Arai A, Kitamura T, Sassa T, Kihara A. (2021) Impaired skin barrier function due to reduced ω-O-acylceramide levels in a mouse model of Sjögren-Larsson syndrome. Mol Cell Biol, 41, e0035221.
  33. Sassa T, Imai Y, Kihara A, Yamanishi K. (2021) Protein-bound ceramide levels in the epidermis of transglutaminase 1-deficient mice. J Dermatol, 48, 1799-1801.
  34. Takeda K, Yano H, Yamada K, Kihara A. (2021) Amlexanox enhances the antitumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 560, 1-6.
  35. Sawai M, Watanabe K, Tanaka K, Kinoshita W, Otsuka K, Miyamoto M, Sassa T, Kihara A. (2021) Diverse meibum lipids produced by Awat1 and Awat2 are important for stabilizing tear film and protecting the ocular surface. iScience, 24, 102478.
  36. Watanabe K, Yoshida M, Okumura T, Sassa T, Kihara A, Uchiyama A. (2021) Improvement of evaporative dry eye with meibomian gland dysfunction in model mice by treatment with ophthalmic solution containing mineral oil. Transl Vis Sci Technol, 10, 21.
  37. Goto H, Miyamoto M, Kihara A. (2021) Direct uptake of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) independent of phospholipid phosphatases. J Biol Chem, 296, 100605.
  38. Yamamoto M, Sassa T, Kyono Y, Uemura H, Kugo M, Hayashi H, Imai Y, Yamanishi K, Kihara A. (2021) Comprehensive stratum corneum ceramide profiling reveals reduced acylceramides in ichthyosis patient with CERS3 mutations. J Dermatol, 48, 447-456.
  39. Nohara T, Ohno Y, Kihara A. (2021) Impaired production of the skin barrier lipid acylceramide by CYP4F22 ichthyosis mutations. J Dermatol Sci, 101, 69-71.
  40. Tanno H, Sassa T, Sawai M, Kihara A. (2021) Production of branched-chain very-long-chain fatty acids by fatty acid elongases and their tissue distribution in mammals. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids, 1866, 158842.
  41. Mori K, Obara T, Seki N, Miyamoto M, Naganuma T, Kitamura T, Kihara A. (2020) Catalytic residues, substrate specificity, and role in carbon starvation of the 2-hydroxy FA dioxygenase Mpo1 in yeast. J Lipid Res, 61, 1104-1114.
  42. Kawana M, Miyamoto M, Ohno Y, Kihara A. (2020) Comparative profiling and comprehensive quantification of stratum corneum ceramides in humans and mice by LC-MS/MS. J Lipid Res, 61, 884-895.
  43. Miyamoto M, Sassa T, Sawai M, Kihara A. (2020) Lipid polarity gradient formed by ω-hydroxy lipids in tear film prevents dry eye disease. eLife, 9, e53582.
  44. Wang ZN, Kawabori M, Higashikawa K, Yasui H, Kuge Y, Ohno Y, Kihara A, Midori YA, Houkin K. (2020) FTY720 protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury by preventing the redistribution of tight junction proteins and decreases inflammation in the sub-acute phase in an experimental stroke model. Transl Stroke Res, in press.
  45. Yamamoto H, Hattori M, Chamulitrat W, Ohno Y, Kihara A. (2020) Skin permeability barrier formation by the ichthyosis-causative gene FATP4 through formation of the barrier lipid ω-O-acylceramide. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 117, 2914-2922.
  46. Jojima K, Edagawa M, Sawai M, Ohno Y, Kihara A. (2020) Biosynthesis of the anti-lipid-microdomain sphingoid base 4,14-sphingadiene by the ceramide desaturase FADS3. FASEB J, 34, 3318-3335.
  47. Kawaguchi M, Sassa T, Kidokoro H, Nakata T, Kato K, Muramatsu H, Okuno Y, Yamamoto H, Kaname T, Kihara A, Natsume J. (2020) Novel biallelic FA2H mutations in a Japanese boy with fatty acid hydroxylase-associated neurodegeneration. Brain Dev, 42, 217-221.
  48. Obara K, Kotani T, Nakatogawa H, Kihara A, Kamura T. (2020) N-glycosylation of Rim21 at an unconventional site fine-tunes its behavior in the plasma membrane. Cell Struct Funct, 45, 1-8.
  49. Miyamoto M, Itoh N, Sawai M, Sassa T, Kihara A. (2019) Severe skin permeability barrier dysfunction in knockout mice deficient in a fatty acid ω-hydroxylase crucial to acylceramide production. J Invest Dermatol, 140, 319-326.
  50. Isokawa M, Sassa T, Hattori S, Miyakawa T, Kihara A. (2019) Reduced chain length in myelin sphingolipids and poorer motor coordination in mice deficient in the fatty acid elongase Elovl1. FASEB BioAdv, 1, 747-759.
  51. Kinugasa Y, Hirano Y, Sawai M, Ohno Y, Shindo T, Asakawa H, Chikashige Y, Shibata S, Kihara A, Haraguchi T, Hiraoka Y. (2019) Very-long-chain fatty acid elongase Elo2 rescues lethal defects associated with loss of the nuclear barrier function. J Cell Sci, 229021.
  52. Hirabayashi T, Murakami M, Kihara A. (2019) The role of PNPLA1 in ω-O-acylceramide synthesis and skin barrier function. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1864, 869-879. Review
  53. Seki N, Mori K, Kitamura T, Miyamoto M, Kihara A. (2019) Yeast Mpo1 is a novel dioxygenase that catalyzes the α-oxidation of a 2-hydroxy fatty acid in an Fe2+-dependent manner. Mol Cell Biol, 39, e00428-18.
  54. Mueller N, Sassa T, Morales-Gonzalez S, Schneider J, Salchow DJ, Seelow D, Knierim E, Stenzel W, Kihara A, Schuelke M. (2019) De novo mutation in ELOVL1 causes ichthyosis, acanthosis nigricans, hypomyelination, spastic paraplegia, high frequency deafness, and optic atrophy. J Med Genet, 56, 164-175.
  55. Kanetake T, Sassa T, Nojiri K, Sawai M, Hattori S, Miyakawa T, Kitamura T, Kihara A. (2019) Neural symptoms in a gene knockout mouse model of Sjögren-Larsson syndrome are associated with a decrease in 2-hydroxygalactosylceramide. FASEB J, 33, 928-941.
  56. Ohno Y, Nara A, Nakamichi S, Kihara A. (2018) Molecular mechanism of the ichthyosis pathology of Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome: stimulation of PNPLA1-catalyzed ω-O-acylceramide production by ABHD5. J Dermatol Sci, 92, 245-253.
  57. Swamy M, Murai Y, Ohno Y, Jojima K, Kihara A, Mitsutake S, Igarashi Y, Yu J, Yao M, Suga Y, Anetai M, Monde K. (2018) Structure-inspired design of a sphingolipid mimic sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonist from a naturally occurring sphingomyelin synthase inhibitor. ChemComm, 54, 12758-12761.
  58. Edagawa M, Sawai M, Ohno Y, Kihara A. (2018) Widespread tissue distribution and synthetic pathway of polyunsaturated C24:2 sphingolipids in mammals. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1863, 1441-1448.
  59. Asakura T, Ishii M, Namkoong H, Suzuki S, Kagawa S, Yagi K, Komiya T, Hashimoto T, Okamori S, Kamata H, Tasaka S, Kihara A, Hegab AE, Hasegawa N, Betsuyaku T. (2018) Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator ONO-4641 dtimulates CD11b+Gr-1+ cell expansion and inhibits lymphocyte infiltration in the lungs to ameliorate murine pulmonary emphysema Mucosal Immunol, 11, 1606-1620.
  60. Sassa T, Tadaki M, Kiyonari H, Kihara A. (2018) Very long-chain tear film lipids produced by fatty acid elongase ELOVL1 prevent dry eye disease in mice. FASEB J, 32, 2966-2978.
  61. Piña F, Yagisawa F, Obara K, Gregerson JD, Kihara A, Niwa M. (2018) Sphingolipids activate the endoplasmic reticulum stress surveillance pathway. J Cell Biol, 217, 495-505.
  62. Honda Y, Kitamura T, Naganuma T, Abe T, Ohno Y, Sassa T, Kihara A. (2018) Decreased skin barrier lipid acylceramide and differentiation-dependent gene expression in ichthyosis gene Nipal4 knockout mice. J Invest Dermatol, 138, 741-749.
  63. Sawai M, Uchida Y, Ohno Y, Miyamoto M, Nishioka C, Itohara S, Sassa T, Kihara A. (2017) The 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratases HACD1 and HACD2 exhibit functional redundancy and are active in a wide range of fatty acid elongation pathways. J Biol Chem, 292, 15538-15551.
  64. Takeichi T, Torrelo A, Lee JYW, Ohno Y, Lozano ML, Kihara A, Liu L, Yasuda Y, Ishikawa J, Murase T, Rodrigo AB, Fernandez-Crehuet P, Toi Y, Mellerio J, Rivera J, Vicente V, Kelsell DP, Nishimura Y, Okuno Y, Kojima D, Ogawa Y, Sugiura K, Simpson MA, McLean WHI, Akiyama M, McGrath JA. (2017) Biallelic mutations in KDSR disrupt ceramide synthesis and result in a spectrum of keratinization disorders associated with thrombocytopenia. J Invest Dermatol, 137, 2344-2353.
  65. Ghanegolmohammadi F, Yoshida M, Ohnuki S, Sukegawa Y, Okada H, Obara K, Kihara A, Suzuki K, Kojima T, Yachie N, Hirata D, Ohya Y. (2017) Systematic analysis of Ca2+ homoeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae based on chemical-genetic interaction profiles. Mol Biol Cell, 28, 3415-3427.
  66. Kitamura T, Seki N, Kihara A. (2017) The phytosphingosine degradation pathway includes fatty acid α-oxidation reactions in the endoplasmic reticulum. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 114, E2616-E2623.
  67. Ohno Y, Kamiyama N, Nakamichi S, Kihara A. (2017) PNPLA1 is a transacylase essential for the generation of the skin barrier lipid ω-O-acylceramide. Nat Commun, 8, 14610.
  68. Wakabayashi M, Yoshioka T, Higashino K, Numata Y, Igarashi Y, Kihara A. (2017) Decreases in 15-lipoxygenase metabolites in Olmsted syndrome model rats. J Dermatol Sci, 85, 186-196.
  69. Yoshinaga T, Uwabe K, Naito S, Higashino K, Nakano T, Numata Y, Kihara A. (2016) AM251 suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition of renal tubular epithelial cells. PLoS One, 11, e0167848.
  70. Obara K, Kihara A. (2017) The Rim101 pathway contributes to ER stress adaptation through sensing the state of plasma membrane. Biochem J, 474, 51-63.
  71. Payet LA, Leroux M, Willison JC, Kihara A, Pelosi L, Pierrel F. (2016) Mechanistic details of early steps in coenzyme Q biosynthesis pathway in yeast. Cell Chem Biol, 23, 1241-1250.
  72. Makuta H, Obara K, Kihara A. (2017) Loop 5 region is important for the activity of the long-chain base transporter Rsb1. J Biochem, 161, 207-213.
  73. Narita T, Naganuma T, Sase Y, Kihara A. (2016) Long-chain bases of sphingolipids are transported into cells via the acyl-CoA synthetases. Sci Rep, 6, 25469.
  74. Kihara A. (2016) Synthesis and degradation pathways, functions, and pathology of ceramides and epidermal acylceramides. Prog Lipid Res, 63, 50-69. Review
  75. Naganuma T, Takagi S, Kanetake T, Kitamura T, Hattori S, Miyakawa T, Sassa T, Kihara A. (2016) Disruption of the Sjögren-Larsson syndrome gene Aldh3a2 in mice increases keratinocyte growth and retards skin barrier recovery. J Biol Chem, 291,11676-11688.
  76. Sassa T, Hirayama T, Kihara A. (2016) Enzyme activities of the ceramide synthases CERS2-6 are regulated by phosphorylation in the C-terminal region. J Biol Chem, 291, 7477-7487.
  77. Klionsky DJ, et al. (2016) Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition). Autphagy, 12, 1-222. Review
  78. Yamamoto S, Yako Y, Fujioka Y, Kajita M, Kameyama T, Kon S, Ishikawa S, Ohba Y, Ohno Y, Kihara A, Fujita Y (2016) A role of the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)- S1P receptor 2 pathway in epithelial defense against cancer (EDAC). Mol Biol Cell, 27, 491-499.
  79. Kihara A (2015) Sphingolipid metabolism via sphingosine 1-phosphate. Bioactive lipid mediators: current reviews and protocols (Yokomizo, T., and Murakami, M. eds.), Springer Japan, Tokyo. pp127-138. Review
  80. Nishino K, Obara K, Kihara A (2015) The C-terminal cytosolic region of Rim21 senses alterations in plasma membrane lipid composition: insights into sensing mechanisms for plasma membrane lipid asymmetry. J Biol Chem, 290, 30797-30805.
  81. Sugimoto M, Shimizu Y, Yoshioka T, Wakabayashi M, Tanaka Y, Higashino K, Numata Y, Sakai S, Kihara A, Igarashi Y, Kuge Y (2015) Histological analyses by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-imaging mass spectrometry reveal differential localization of sphingomyelin molecular species regulated by particular ceramide synthase in mouse brains. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1851, 1554-1565.
  82. Ohno Y, Nakamichi S, Ohkuni A, Kamiyama N, Naoe A, Tsujimura H, Yokose U, Sugiura K, Ishikawa J, Akiyama M, Kihara A (2015) Essential role of the cytochrome P450 CYP4F22 in the production of acylceramide, the key lipid for skin permeability barrier formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 112, 7707-7712.
  83. Blondelle J, Ohno Y, Gache V, Guyot S, Storck S, Blanchard-Gutton N, Barthélémy I, Walmsley G, Rahier A, Gadin S, Maurer M, Guillaud L, Prola A, Ferry A, Aubin-Houzelstein G, Demarquoy J, Relaix F, Piercy R J, Blot S, Kihara A, Tiret L, Pilot-Storck F (2015) HACD1, a regulator of membrane composition and fluidity, promotes myoblast fusion and skeletal muscle growth. J Mol Cell Biol, 7, 429-440.
  84. Yamauchi S, Obara K, Uchibori K, Kamimura A, Azumi K, Kihara A (2015) Opt2 mediates the exposure of phospholipids during cellular adaptation to altered lipid asymmetry. J Cell Sci, 128, 61-69.
  85. Kitamura T, Takagi S, Naganuma T, Kihara A (2015) Mouse aldehyde dehydrogenase ALDH3B2 is localized to lipid droplets via two C-terminal tryptophan residues and lipid modification. Biochem J, 465, 79-87.
  86. Kondo N, Ohno Y, Yamagata M, Obara T, Seki N, Kitamura T, Naganuma T, Kihara A (2014) Identification of the phytosphingosine metabolic pathway leading to odd-numbered fatty acids. Nat Commun, 5, 5338. Corrigendum: (2015) 6, 6815
  87. Ianiri G, Abhyankar R, Kihara A, Idnurm A (2014) Phs1 and the synthesis of very long chain fatty acids are required for ballistospore formation. PLos One, 9, e105147.
  88. Wakashima T, Abe K, Kihara A (2014) Dual functions of the trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase TER in the sphingosine-1-phosphate metabolic pathway and in fatty acid elongation. J Biol Chem, 289, 24736-24748.
  89. Obara K, Kihara A (2014) Signaling events of the Rim101 pathway occur at the plasma membrane in a ubiquitination-dependent manner. Mol Cell Biol, 34, 3525-3534.
  90. Naganuma T, Kihara A (2014) Two modes of regulation of the fatty acid elongase ELOVL6 by the 3-ketoacyl-CoA reductase KAR in the fatty acid elongation cycle. PLos One, 9, e101823.
  91. Sassa T, Kihara A (2014) Metabolism of very long-chain fatty acids: genes and pathophysiology. Biomol Ther, 22, 83-92. Review
  92. Sassa T, Wakashima T, Ohno Y, Kihara A (2014) Lorenzo's oil inhibits ELOVL1 and lowers the level of sphingomyelin with a saturated very long-chain fatty acid. J Lipid Res, 55, 524-530.
  93. Ito K, Morimoto J, Kihara A, Matsui Y, Kurotaki D, Kanayama M, Simmons S, Ishii M, Sheppard D, Takaoka A, Uede T (2014) Integrin α9 on lymphatic endothelial cell regulates lymphocyte egress. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 111, 3080-3085.
  94. Abe K, Ohno Y, Sassa T, Taguchi R, Caliskan M, Ober C, Kihara A (2013) Mutation for non-syndromic mental retardation in the trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase TER gene involved in fatty acid elongation impairs the enzyme activity and stability leading to change in sphingolipid profile. J Biol Chem, 288, 36741-36749.
  95. Ohkuni A, Ohno Y, Kihara A (2013) Identification of acyl-CoA synthetases involved in the mammalian sphingosine 1-phosphate metabolic pathway. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 442, 195-201.
  96. Kihara A (2014) Sphingosine 1-phosphate is a key metabolite linking sphingolipids to glycerophospholipids. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1841, 766-772. Review
  97. Muhammad E, Reish O, Ohno Y, Scheetz T, DeLuca A, Searby C, Regev M, Benyamini L, Fellig Y, Kihara A, Sheffield VC, Parvari R (2013) Congenital myopathy is caused by mutation of HACD1. Hum Mol Genet, 22, 5229-5236.
  98. Kitamura T, Naganuma T, Abe K, Nakahara K, Ohno Y, Kihara A (2013) Substrate specificity, plasma membrane localization, and lipid modification of the aldehyde dehydrogenase ALDH3B1. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1831, 1395-1401.
  99. Mizutani Y, Sun H, Ohno Y, Sassa T, Wakashima T, Obara M, Yuyama K, Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2013) Cooperative synthesis of ultra long-chain fatty acid and ceramide during keratinocyte differentiation. PLoS One, 8, e67317.
  100. Sassa T, Ohno Y, Suzuki S, Nomura T, Nishioka C, Kashiwagi T, Hirayama T, Akiyama M, Taguchi R, Shimizu H, Itohara S, Kihara A (2013) Impaired epidermal permeability barrier in mice lacking the Elovl1 gene responsible for very long-chain fatty acid production. Mol Cell Biol, 33, 2787-2796.
  101. Yamagata M, Obara K, Kihara A (2013) Unperverted synthesis of complex sphingolipids is essential for cell survival under nitrogen starvation. Genes Cells, 18, 650-659.
  102. Yazawa T, Naganuma T, Yamagata M, Kihara A (2013) Identification of residues important for the catalysis, structure maintenance, and substrate specificity of yeast 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratase Phs1. FEBS Lett, 587, 804-809.
  103. Obara K, Kojima R, Kihara A (2013) Effects on vesicular transport pathways at the late endosome in cells with limited very long-chain fatty acids. J Lipid Res, 54, 831-842.
  104. Obara K, Yamamoto H, Kihara A (2012) Membrane protein Rim21 plays a central role in sensing ambient pH in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Biol Chem, 287, 38473-38481.
  105. Ohno Y, Kashio A, Ogata R, Ishitomi A, Yamazaki Y, Kihara A (2012) Analysis of substrate specificity of human DHHC protein acyltransferases using a yeast expression system. Mol Biol Cell, 23, 4543-4551.
  106. Kihara A (2012) Very long-chain fatty acids: elongation, physiology, and related disorders. J Biochem, 152, 387-395. Review
  107. Nakahara K, Ohkuni A, Kitamura T, Abe K, Naganuma T, Ohno Y, Zoeller RA, Kihara A (2012) Sjögren-Larsson syndrome gene encodes a hexadecenal dehydrogenase of the sphingosine 1-phosphate degradation pathway. Mol Cell, 46, 461-471.
  108. Tanigawa M, Kihara A, Terashima M, Takahara T, Maeda T (2012) Sphingolipids regulate the yeast high osmolarity-responsive HOG pathway. Mol Cell Biol, 32, 2861-2870.
  109. Klinosky DJ, et al. (2012) Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy. Autophagy, 8, 445-544. Review
  110. Sassa T, Suto S, Okayasu Y, Kihara A (2012) A shift in sphingolipid composition from C24 to C16 increases susceptibility to apoptosis in HeLa cells. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1821, 1031-1037.
  111. Lakkaraju AK, Abrami L, Lemmin T, Blaskovic S, Kunz B, Kihara A, Dal Peraro M, van der Goot FG (2012) Palmitoylated calnexin is a key component of the ribosome-translocon complex. EMBO J, 31, 1823-1835.
  112. Nakagawa N, Kato M, Takahashi Y, Shimazaki KI, Tamura K, Tokuji Y, Kihara A, Imai H (2012) Degradation of long-chain base 1-phosphate (LCBP) in Arabidopsis: functional characterization of LCBP phosphatase involved in the dehydration stress response. J Plant Res, 125, 439-449.
  113. Naganuma T, Sato Y, Sassa T, Ohno Y, Kihara A (2011) Biochemical characterization of the very long-chain fatty acid elongase ELOVL7. FEBS Lett, 585, 3337-3341.
  114. Yamagata M, Obara K, Kihara A (2011) Sphingolipid synthesis is involved in autophagy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 410, 786-791.
  115. Okuda A, Naganuma T, Ohno Y, Abe K, Yamagata M, Igarashi Y, Kihara A (2010) Hetero-oligomeric interactions of an ELOVL4 mutant protein: implications in the molecular mechanism of Stargardt-3 macular dystrophy. Mol Vis, 16, 2438-2445.
  116. Ohno Y, Suto S, Yamanaka M, Mizutani Y, Mitsutake S, Igarashi Y, Sassa T, Kihara A (2010) ELOVL1 production of C24 acyl-CoAs is linked to C24 sphingolipid synthesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 107, 18439-18444.
  117. Konishi H, Okuda A, Ohno Y, Kihara A (2010) Characterization of HACD1 K64Q mutant found in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia patients. J Biochem, 148, 617-622.
  118. Ohno Y, Ito A, Ogata R, Hiraga Y, Igarashi Y, Kihara A (2009) Palmitoylation of the sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor S1P1 is involved in its signaling functions and internalization. Genes Cells, 14, 911-923.
  119. Mizutani Y, Mitsutake S, Tsuji K, Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2009) Ceramide biosynthesis in keratinocyte and its role in skin function. Biochimie, 91, 784-790. Review
  120. E S, Lai Y, Tsukahara R, Chen C, Fujiwara Y, Yue J, Yu J, Guo H, Kihara A, Tigyi G, Lin F (2009) The LPA2 receptor-mediated supramolecular complex formation regulates its anti-apoptotic effect. J Biol Chem, 284, 14558-14571.
  121. Balan L, Foltyn VN, Zehl M, Dumin E, Dikopoltsev E, Knoh D, Ohno Y, Kihara A, Jensen ON, Radzishevsky IS, Wolosker H (2009) Feedback inactivation of D-serine synthesis by NMDA receptor-elicited translocation of serine racemase to the membrane. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA,106, 7589-7594.
  122. Hara-Yokoyama M, Terasawa K, Kihara A, Kim J W, Par CS, Hirabayashi Y, Igarashi Y, Yanagishita M (2008) Sphingosine kinase 2 inhibitor accelerates Fas-mediated cell death progression in A20/2J cells. Open Bioactive Com J, 1, 22-27.
  123. Yamanaka M, Anada Y, Igarashi Y, Kihara A (2008) A splicing isoform of LPP1, LPP1a, exhibits high phosphatase activity toward FTY720 phosphate. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 375, 675-679.
  124. Mizutani Y, Kihara A, Chiba H, Tojo H, Igarashi Y (2008) Synthesis of 2-hydroxy-ceramide by ceramide synthase family members: enzymatic basis for the preference of fatty acid chain length in cultured cell models. J Lipid Res, 49, 2356-2364.
  125. Ikeda M, Kanao Y, Yamanaka M, Sakuraba H, Mizutani Y, Igarashi Y, Kihara A (2008) Characterization of four mammalian 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratases involved in very long-chain fatty acid synthesis. FEBS Lett, 582, 2435-2440.
  126. Jin YX, Shi LH, Yoo HS, Lee YM, Kihara A, Igarashi Y, So HY, Yim YH (2008) A sphingosine kinase activity assay using directe infusion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Biochem, 380, 35-40.
  127. Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2008) Production and release of sphingosine 1-phosphate and the phosphorylated form of the immunomodulator FTY720. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1781, 496-502. Review
  128. Kihara A, Sakuraba H, Ikeda M, Denpoh A, Igarashi Y (2008) Membrane topology and essential amino acid residues of Phs1, a 3-hydoroxyacyl-CoA Dehydratase involved in very long-chain fatty acid elongation. J Biol Chem, 283, 11199-11209.
  129. Ikeda M, Kihara A, Denpoh A, Igarashi Y (2008) The Rim101 pathway is involved in Rsb1 expression induced by altered lipid asymmetry. Mol Biol Cell, 19, 1922-1931.
  130. Iwaki S, Sano T, Takagi T, Osumi M, Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2007) Intracellular trafficking pathway of yeast long-chain base kinase Lcb4, from its sythesis to its degradation. J Biol Chem, 282, 28485-28492.
  131. Kasahara K, Nakayama Y, Kihara A, Matsuda D, Ikeda K, Kuga T, Fukumoto Y, Igarashi Y, Yamaguchi N (2007) Rapid trafficking of c-Src, a non-palmitoylated Src-family kinase, between the plasma membrane and late endosomes/lysosomes. Exp Cell Res, 313, 2651-2666.
  132. Anada Y, Igarashi Y, Kihara A (2007) The immunomodulator FTY720 is phosphorylated and released from platelets. Eur J Pharm, 56, 106-111.
  133. Kihara A, Mitsutake S, Mizutani Y, Igarashi Y (2007) Metabolism and biological functions of two phosphorylated sphingolipids, sphingosine 1-phosphate and ceramide1-phosphate. Prog Lipid Res, 46, 126-144. Review
  134. Ito K, Anada Y, Tani M, Ikeda M, Sano T, Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2007) Lack of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P)-degrading enzymes in erythrocytes, a potential major source of plasma S1P in addition to platelets. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 357, 212-217.
  135. Uemura S, Kihara A, Iwaki S, Inokuchi JI, Igarashi Y (2007) Regulation of the transport and protein levels of the inositol phosphorylceramide mannosyltransferases Csg1 and Csh1 by the Ca2+-binding protein Csg2. J Biol Chem, 282, 8613-8621.
  136. Jin YX, Yoo HS, Kihara A, Choi CH, Oh S, Moon DC, Igarashi Y, Lee YM (2006) Sphingosine kinase assay system with fluorescent detection in high performance liquid chromatography. Arch Pharm Res, 29, 1049-1054.
  137. Ikeda M, Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2006) Lipid asymmetry of the eukaryotic plasma membrane: functions and related enzymes.Biol Pharm Bull, 29, 1542-1546. Review
  138. Mizutani Y, Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2006) LASS3 (longevity assurance homologue 3) is a mainly testis-specific (dihydro)ceramide synthase with relatively broad substrate specificity. Biochem J, 398, 531-538.
  139. Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2006) Synthesis, metabolism, and trans-bilayer movement of long-chain base. Sphingolipid Biology (ed. Y. Hirabayashi, Y. Igarashi, and A. H. Merrill, Jr, Springer-Verlag, Tokyo), 95-106. Review
  140. Igarashi Y, Kihara A, Hirabayashi Y (2006) The genes in yeast and mammals. Sphingolipid Biology (ed. Y. Hirabayashi, Y. Igarashi, and A. H. Merrill, Jr, Springer-Verlag, Tokyo), 515-517.
  141. Kihara A, Anada Y, Igarashi Y (2006) Mouse sphingosine kinase isoforms SPHK1a and SPHK1b differ in enzymatic traits including stability, localization, modification, and oligomerization. J Biol Chem, 281, 4532-4539.
  142. Ohno Y, Kihara A, Sano T, Igarashi Y (2006) Intracellular localization and tissue-specific distribution of human and yeast DHHC cysteine-rich domain-containing proteins. Biochim Biophys Acta, 2761, 474-483.
  143. Tani M, Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2006) Rescue of cell growth by sphingosine with disruption of lipid microdomain formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae deficient in sphingolipid biosynthesis. Biochem J, 394, 237-242.
  144. Kobayashi N, Nishi T, Hirata T, Kihara A, Sano T, Igarashi Y, Yamaguchi A (2006) Sphingosine 1-phosphate is released from the cytosol of rat platelets in a carrier-mediated manner. J Lipid Res, 47, 614-621.
  145. Hiraga Y, Kihara A, Sano T, Igarashi Y (2006) Changes in S1P1 and S1P2 expression during embryonal development and primitive endoderm differentiation of F9 cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 344, 852-858.
  146. Kihara A, Kurotsu F, Sano T, Iwaki S, Igarashi Y (2005) Long-chain base kinase Lcb4 Is anchored to the membrane through its palmitoylation by Akr1. Mol Cell Biol, 25, 9189-9197.
  147. Sano T, Kihara A, Kurotsu F, Iwaki S, Igarashi Y (2005) Regulation of the sphingoid long-chain base kinase Lcb4p by ergosterol and heme: studies in phytosphingosine-resistant mutants. J Biol Chem, 280, 36674-36682.
  148. Mizutani Y, Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2005) Mammalian Lass6 and its related family members regulate synthesis of specific ceramides. Biochem J, 390, 263-271.
  149. Kariya Y, Kihara A, Ikeda M, Kikuchi F, Nakamura S, Hashimoto S, Choi CH, Lee YM, Igarashi Y (2005) Products by the sphingosine kinase/sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) lyase pathway but not S1P stimulate mitogenesis. Genes Cells, 10, 605-615.
  150. Iwaki S, Kihara A, Sano T, Igarashi Y (2005) Phosphorylation by Pho85 cyclin-dependent kinase acts as a signal for the down-regulation of the yeast sphingoid long-chain base kinase Lcb4 during the stationary phase. J Biol Chem, 280, 6520-6527.
  151. Ikeda M, Kihara A, Kariya Y, Lee YM, Igarashi Y (2005) Sphingolipid-to-glycerophospholipid conversion in SPL-null cells implies the existence of an alternative isozyme. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 329, 474-479.
  152. Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2004) Cross talk between sphingolipids and glycerophospholipids in the establishment of plasma membrane asymmetry. Mol Biol Cell, 15, 4949-4959.
  153. Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2004) FVT-1 is a mammalian 3-ketodihydrosphingosine reductase with an active site that faces the cytosolic side of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. J Biol Chem, 279, 49243-49250.
  154. Yokota S, Taniguchi Y, Kihara A, Mitsutake S, Igarashi Y (2004) Asp177 in C4 domain of mouse sphingosine kinase 1a is important for the sphingosine recognition. FEBS Lett, 578, 106-110.
  155. Mizutani Y, Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2004) Identification of the human sphingolipid C4-hydroxylase, hDES2, and its up-regulation during keratinocyte differentiation. FEBS Lett, 563, 93-97.
  156. Ikeda M, Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2004) Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase SPL is an endoplasmic reticulum-resident, integral membrane protein with the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate binding domain exposed to the cytosol. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 325, 338-343.
  157. Kihara A, Ikeda M, Kariya Y, Lee EY, Lee YM, Igarashi Y (2003) Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase is involved in the differentiation of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells to primitive endoderm. J Biol Chem, 278, 14578-14585.
  158. Kihara A, Sano T, Iwaki S, Igarashi Y (2003) Transmembrane topology of sphingoid long-chain base-1-phosphate phosphatase, Lcb3p. Genes Cells, 8, 525-535.
  159. Uemura S, Kihara A, Inokuchi J, Igarashi Y (2003) Csg1p and newly identified Csh1p function in mannosylinositol phosphorylceramide synthesis by interacting with Csg2p. J Biol Chem, 278, 45049-45055.
  160. Ogawa C, Kihara A, Gokoh M, Igarashi Y (2003) Identification and characterization of a novel human sphingosine-1-phosphate phosphohydrolase, hSPP2. J Biol Chem, 278, 1268-1272.
  161. Fukuda Y, Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2003) Distribution of sphingosine kinase activity in mouse tissues: contribution of SPHK1. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 309, 155-160.
  162. Kihara A, Igarashi Y (2002) Identification and characterization of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene, RSB1, involved in sphingoid long-chain base release. J Biol Chem, 277, 30048-30054.
  163. Kihara A, Noda T, Ishihara N, Ohsumi Y (2001) Two distinct Vps34 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complexes function in autophagy and carboxypeptidase Y sorting in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Cell Biol, 152, 519-530.
  164. Kihara A, Kabeya Y, Ohsumi Y, Yoshimori T (2001) Beclin-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex functions at the trans-Golgi network. EMBO Rep, 2, 330-335.
  165. Kihara A, Akiyama Y, Ito K (2001) Revisiting the lysogenization control of bacteriophage λ. Identification and characterization of a new host component, HflD. J Biol Chem, 276, 13695-13700.
  166. Ishihara N, Hamasaki M, Yokota S, Suzuki K, Kamada Y, Kihara A, Yoshimori T, Noda T, Ohsumi Y (2001) Autophagosome requires specific early Sec proteins for its formation and NSF/SNARE for vacuolar fusion. Mol Biol Cell, 12, 3690-3702.
  167. Kihara A, Akiyama Y, Ito K (1999) Dislocation of membrane proteins in FtsH-mediated proteolysis. EMBO J, 18, 2970-2981.
  168. Kai Y, Matsumura H, Inoue T, Terada K, Nagara Y, Yoshinaga T, Kihara A, Tsumura K, Izui K (1999) Three-dimensional structure of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase: a proposed mechanism for allosteric inhibition. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 96, 823-828.
  169. Kihara A, Ito K (1998) Translocation, folding, and stability of the HflKC complex with signal anchor topogenic sequences. J Biol Chem, 273, 29770-29775.
  170. Kihara A, Akiyama Y, Ito K (1998) Different pathways for protein degradation by the FtsH/HflKC membrane-embedded protease complex: an implication from the interference by a mutant form of a new substrate protein, YccA. J Mol Biol, 279, 175-188.
  171. Akiyama Y, Kihara A, Mori H, Ogura T, Ito K (1998) Roles of the periplasmic domain of Escherichia coli FtsH (HflB) in protein interactions and activity modulation. J Biol Chem, 273, 22326-33.
  172. Akiyama Y, Ehrmann M, Kihara A, Ito K (1998) Polypeptide binding of Escherichia coli FtsH (HflB). Mol Microbiol, 28, 803-812.
  173. Kihara A, Akiyama Y, Ito K (1997) Host regulation of lysogenic decision in bacteriophage λ: transmembrane modulation of FtsH (HflB), the cII degrading protease, by HflKC (HflA). Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 94, 5544-5549.
  174. Ito K, Akiyama Y, Kihara A, Matsuo E, Homma T, Shirai Y, Yoshihisa T, Taura T, Shimoike T, Sone M, Matsumoto G (1997) The SecY Complex and the FtsH complex in the E. coli Plasma Membrane. MEMBRANE PROTEINS: Structure, Function and Expression Control (ed. N. Hamasaki and K. Mihara, Kyushu University Press/ Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers, Fukuoka and Basel), 169-181. Review
  175. Kihara A, Akiyama Y, Ito K (1996) A protease complex in the Escherichia coli plasma membrane: HflKC (HflA) forms a complex with FtsH (HflB), regulating its proteolytic activity against SecY. EMBO J, 15, 6122-6131.
  176. Akiyama Y, Kihara A, Tokuda H, Ito K (1996) FtsH (HflB) is an ATP-dependent protease selectively acting on SecY and some other membrane proteins. J Biol Chem, 271, 31196-31201.
  177. Akiyama Y, Kihara A, Ito K (1996) Subunit a of proton ATPase F0 sector is a substrate of the FtsH protease in Escherichia coli. FEBS Lett, 399, 26-28.
  178. Izui K, Terada K, Yano M, Nakamura T, Abe K, Kihara A, Yoshioka I, Takahashi M (1995) Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase: alteration of catalytic and regulatory properties by site-directed mutagenesis and isolation of the gene from an extreme thermophile. Energy Convers Mgmt, 36, 751-754.
  179. Shimoike T, Taura T, Kihara A, Yoshihisa T, Akiyama Y, Cannon K, Ito K (1995) Product of a new gene, syd, functionally interacts with SecY when overproduced in Escherichia coli. J Biol Chem, 270, 5519-5526.
  180. Homma T, Yoshihisa T, Kihara A, Akiyama Y, Ito K (1995) Intracellular stability of α fragments of β-galactosidase: effects of amino-terminally fused polypeptides. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 215, 452-458.
  181. Kihara A, Akiyama Y, Ito K (1995) FtsH is required for proteolytic elimination of uncomplexed forms of SecY, an essential protein translocase subunit. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 92, 4532-4536.
Reviews (in Japanese)
  1. Kihara A. (2025) Molecular mechanism of skin permeability barrier formation by ceramides. Oleoscience, 25, 369–378. Review. [in Japanese]
  2. Ohno Y, Kihara A. (2025) Quantification of stratum corneum ceramides using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. In: Hifu no Sokutei Hyoka to Kashika, Imaging Gijutsu, Chapter 6-2, pp. 200–210. Review. [in Japanese]
  3. Kihara A. (2025) Skin permeability barrier formation mediated by ceramides. Jikken Igaku, 43, 60–67. Review. [in Japanese]
  4. Kihara A, Hanada K. (2024) Perspectives on robust and mysterious lipid ceramides. Seikagaku, 96, 433–437. Review. [in Japanese]
  5. Kihara A. (2024) Diversity of ceramides in mammals and molecular mechanisms of their synthesis and degradation. Seikagaku, 96, 438–447. Review. [in Japanese]
  6. Ohno Y, Kihara A. (2024) Ceramide-mediated skin barrier formation. Seikagaku, 96, 457–465. Review. [in Japanese]
  7. Kihara A. (2024) Alpha-oxidation of unusual fatty acids: molecular mechanisms generating odd-chain fatty acids. Kagaku, 79, 68–69. Review. [in Japanese]
  8. Kihara A. (2023) Diversity of ceramides and skin permeability barrier formation. Pharmacia, 59, 34–38. Review. [in Japanese]
  9. Kihara A. (2023) Diversity of sphingolipids and ceramide-dependent skin barrier function. Jikken Igaku, 41, 49–56. Review. [in Japanese]
  10. Kihara A. (2019) A novel fatty acid α-oxidation pathway in the endoplasmic reticulum. Koso Kogaku News, 82, 22–25. Review. [in Japanese]
  11. Kihara A. (2019) Biological defense through sphingolipid quality. The Lipid, 30, 28–34. Review. [in Japanese]
  12. Kihara A. (2019) Formation of permeability barriers in epidermis and tear fluid by very-long-chain lipids. Igaku no Ayumi, 269, 983–988. Review. [in Japanese]
  13. Kihara A. (2019) Ceramide degradation pathways for sphingolipid homeostasis. In: Ceramide Kenkyu no Shin-Tenkai. Food Chemical News, pp. 32–43. Review. [in Japanese]
  14. Kihara A. (2018) Sphingolipid metabolism and disease control. Jikken Igaku, 36, 46–52. Review. [in Japanese]
  15. Murakami M, Kihara A. (2018) Lipid-mediated skin barrier formation and disease control. Jikken Igaku, 36, 160–167. Review. [in Japanese]
  16. Kihara A. (2018) Palmitoylation. Seitai no Kagaku, 69, 490–491. Review. [in Japanese]
  17. Kihara A. (2016) Odd-chain fatty acid production via phytosphingosine metabolism. Kagaku to Seibutsu, 54, 75–76. Review. [in Japanese]
  18. Kihara A. (2015) Diversity and multifunctionality of sphingolipids. Jikken Igaku, 33, 50–56. Review. [in Japanese]
  19. Kihara A. (2015) Skin barrier formation by ceramides. Jikken Igaku, 33, 117–122. Review. [in Japanese]
  20. Kihara A. (2014) Metabolism of sphingolipids and related diseases. Igaku no Ayumi, 248, 1112–1118. Review. [in Japanese]
  21. Kihara A. (2013) Comprehensive overview of sphingosine-1-phosphate metabolism. Seikagaku, 85, 553–557. Review. [in Japanese]
  22. Kihara A. (2012) Physiological roles of bioactive lipids. Rinsho Kensa, 56, 107–116. Review. [in Japanese]

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