Asuka Takeishi, PhD
RIKEN, Cluster for Pioneering Research/ Center for Brain Science/Hakubi,
Laboratory for Neural Circuit of Multisensory Integration
2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japane-mail: asuka.takeishi@riken.jp
Professional Experience:
2019 - present: RIKEN Hakubi Team Leader, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research/ Center for
Brain Science,
2012 - 2019: Postdoctoral research fellow, Department of Biology, Brandeis University, USA
2012: Postdoctoral Fellow. The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Tokyo, Japan
Education:
2009-2012: The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan,PhD (Integrated Pharmaceutical Sciences)
2007-2009: The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan,
Master of Science (Integrated Pharmaceutical Sciences)
2003-2007: The University of Tokyo, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan, Bachelorof Science (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Honors and Awards
2016-2018:
The Research Fellowships of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science for Postdoctoral
Fellowship for Research Abroad.
2014:
Best Postdoctoral Poster Presentation Award (Brandeis Volen Retreat)2013:
Publication was selected for F1000 (http://f1000.com/prime)
2009-2012:
The Research Fellowships of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science for Young Scientists.
2009:
Selected for Best Oral Presentation Award (the 82nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese BiochemicalSociety)Publications:Takeishi, A., ‘Environmental-temperature and internal-state dependent thermotaxis plasticity ofnematodes’, Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 74:102541, 2022
Galatsis, K.N., Takeishi, A. Insulin Signaling Acts Extensively in C. elegans Starvation-AssociatedLearning and Behavioral Plasticity. J Cell Sci Therapy, S5:315, 2021
Yeon, J., Takeishi, A., Sengupta, P. Chronic vs acute manipulations reveal degeneracy in athermosensoty neuron network. microPublication Biology, 10.17912/micropub.biology.000355.,
2021
Takeishi, A., Yeon, J., Harris, N., Yang, W., Sengupta, P. Feeding state functionally reconfigures asensory circuit to drive thermosensory behavioral plasticity. eLife, 61167. PMCID: PMC7644224,
2020
Takeishi, A., Takagaki N., Kuhara A., Temperature signaling underlying thermotaxis and cold
tolerance in Caenorhabditis elegans, Journal of Neurogenetics, pp351-362, 2020.
Takeishi, A., Sengupta, P., Guanylyl cyclases may function as thermosensors in C. elegans,Jikkenigaku, Sep, 2016.
Takeishi, A., Yu, Y.V., Hapiak, V.M., Bell, H.W., O’Leary, T., Sengupta, P., Receptor-type
guanylyl cyclases confer thermosensory responses in C. elegans, Neuron, 90, pp235-244, 2016.
Neal, S.J., Takeishi, A., O’Donnell, M.P., Park, J., Hong, M., Butcher, R.A., Kim, K., Sengupta, P.
Feeding state-dependent regulation of developmental plasticity via CaMKI and neuroendocrine
signaling. eLife, 10110. PMCID: PMC4558564, 2015.
Obata, F., Kuranaga, E., Tomioka, K., Ming M., Takeishi, A., Chen, C.H., Soga T., Miura, M.,“Necrosis-driven systemic immune response alters SAM metabolism through the FOXO-GNMTaxis” Cell Reports, 7, 821-833 (2014).
Takeishi, A., Kuranaga, E., Tonoki, A., Misaki, K., Yonemura, S., Kanuka, H., Miura, M.
“Homeostatic epithelial renewal in the gut is required to dampen a fatal systemic wound response inDrosophila” Cell Reports, 3, 919-930 (2013).

Kamiya, M., Asanuma, D., Kuranaga, E., Takeishi, A., Sakabe, M., Miura, M., Nagano, T., Urano, Y.
“ß-Galactosidase Fluorescence Probe with Improved Cellular Accumulation Based on a Spirocyclized
Rhodol Scaffold.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 133, 12960-12963 (2011).
Asuka Takeishi, Erina Kuranaga, Masayuki Miura. “Sensing and reacting to dangers by caspases:
Caspase activation via Inflammasomes. Drug Discoveries & Therapeutics, 2:14-23, (2008)
International Conferences:[Oral Presentations]Takeishi, A., Yeon, J., Harris, Sengupta, P. Neuronal mechanisms that drive starvation-dependent
thermotaxis plasticity in C. elegans, 線虫の飢餓依存的な温度走行性を制御する神経メカニズ
ムの解明. The 43th Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan (Dec., 2020, Zoom)
武石 明佳, ‘線虫を用いた行動決定メカニズムの解明’, 第12会若手インスパイアシンポジウム, 2020, 東京

Takeishi, A., ‘Neural Communication that Mediates Starvation-dependent Thermotaxis Plasticity in C. elegans’,
NSI workshop 2019, 2019, 名古屋

Takeishi, A., Yanxun, Y.V., Hapiak, V.M., Bell, H.W., Sengupta, P., AFD-specific receptor
guanylyl cyclases confer thermosensory responses, CeNeuro2016 (June 2016, Nagoya, Japan)
Takeishi, A., Yanxun, Y.V., Hapiak, V.M., Bell, H.W., Sengupta, P., AFD-specific receptor
guanylyl cyclases can confer temperature responses onto diverse cell types, 20th International C.
elegans Meeting (June 2015, Los Angeles, USA)
Takeishi, A., Kuranaga, E., Tonoki, A., Kanuka, H., Miura, M. “Caspase activity in gut mediates
systemic response against tissue damage” 2012 Drosophila Research Conference (March, 2012,Chicago, USA)
Takeishi, A., Kuranaga, E., Tonoki, A., Kanuka, H., Miura, M. “The regulation of systemic response
via caspase pathway to overcome tissue damage” The Tissue Repair & Regeneration Gordon-Kenan
Research Seminar (June, 2011, NH, USA)

Takeishi, A. “Injury Induced Defense Mechanism via caspase” Homeostatic inflammation Workshop
for Young Scientists (January, 2011, Yamagata, Japan)
Takeishi, A., Kuranaga, E., Tonoki, A., Kanuka, H., Miura, M. “Involvement of caspase pathway inthe response against tissue injury” The 82nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Biochemical Society(May, 2009, Hyogo, Japan)
Takeishi, A., Kuranaga, E., Miura, M. “Analysis of Caspase activation in Drosophila during hostdefense” The 8th Awaji International Forum on Infection and Immunity (September, 2008, Hyogo,Japan)[Poster Presentations]Takeishi, A., Sengupta, P., “Molecular and neuronal mechanisms mediating starvation-dependent
thermosensory behavioral plasticity” CeNeuro 2018. (July, 2018, WI, USA)
Takeishi, A., Sengupta, P., “Molecular and neuronal mechanisms underlying feedingstate-dependent plasticity in thermotaxis behaviors”, 21st International C. elegans Meeting(June 2017, Los Angeles, USA)
Takeishi, A., Neal, J. S., Sengupta, P., “Molecular and neuronal mechanisms of feedingstate-dependent thermotaxis behavioral plasticity”, CeNeuro2016 (June 2016, Nagoya, Japan)
Takeishi, A., Sengupta, P., “The AWC and ASI sensory neurons contribute to starvation-dependent
plasticity in thermotaxis behavior” CeNeuro 2014. (July, 2014, WI, USA)
Takeishi, A., Sengupta, P., “The AWC and ASI sensory neurons contribute to starvation-dependent
plasticity in thermotaxis behavior” Volen retreat. (October, 2014, MA, USA)
Takeishi, A., Sengupta, P., “Mechanism of starvation-dependent plasticity in thermotaxis behaviors
in C.elegans” Volen retreat. (October, 2013, MA, USA)
Takeishi, A., Kuranaga, E., Tonoki, A. Misaki, K., Yonemura, S., Kanuka, H., Miura, M. “Gut cellturnover via caspase mediates systemic wound response” Drosophila Research conference 10.
(October, 2012, Tokyo, Japan)

Takeishi, A., Kuranaga, E., Tonoki, A. Misaki, K., Yonemura, S., Kanuka, H., Miura, M.
“Regulation of systemic wound response via caspase activity in gut” New Frontiers of Metabolism
Research in Biomedical Sciences. (September, 2012, Tokyo, Japan)
Takeishi, A., Kuranaga, E., Tonoki, A., Kanuka, H., Miura, M. “Genetic analysis of the cell deathsignal in the response against tissue injury” 13th international TNF conference (May, 2011, Hyogo,Japan)
Takeishi, A., Kuranaga, E., Tonoki, A., Kanuka, H., Miura, M. “Genetic dissection of tissue
injury-induced cell death-related signaling in Drosophila.” 21st European Drosophila Research
Conference (November, 2009, Nice, France)
Takeishi, A., Kuranaga, E., Tonoki, A., Kanuka, H., Miura, M. “Genetic Analysis of Defense
Mechanisms against Tissue Injury” Drosophila Research Conference 9 (July, 2009, Shizuoka, Japan)
Takeishi, A., Kuranaga, E., Miura, M. “In vivo dynamics of caspase activation in Drosophila during
host defense” The 15th Takeda Science Foundation Symposium on Bioscience (December, 2008,Tokyo, Japan)
Takeishi, A., Kuranaga, E., Miura, M. “Live imaging analysis of caspase activity during the defense
response.” The University of Tokyo LSN Symposium 2008 (September, 2008, Tokyo, Japan)
Takeishi, A., Kuranaga, E., Miura, M. “Live Imaging of the Caspase Activity during the WoundHealing” The 7st International Cell Death Society Symposium (June, 2008, Shanghai, China)
Takeishi, A., Kuranaga, E., Miura, M. “Live Imaging of the Caspase Activity during the Wound
Healing” The 8th Meeting of Japanese Drosophila Research Conference (September, 2007, Hyogo,Japan)
Memberships
2015-present The Genetics Society of America
2009-2012 The Japanese Biochemical Society