Division of Biological Science and ResearchLab. ID
Insect Molecular Biology
ｆieldTechnology
BS06
Laboratory web site
http://kiya.w3.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/Research subjects
Insects exhibit a variety of interesting biological phenomenon, such as metamorphosis and innate behaviors. Using
the silkmoth (Bombyx mori), vinegar fly (Drosophila melanogaster), and honeybee (Apis mellifera), we areinvestigating molecular and genetic mechanisms of sexual behaviors of insects and interplay between hormone andbehavior. The main research topics are as follows.
1. Visualization and manipulation of neural circuits that regulate sexual behavior in insect brains.
Insects communicate sexual information using species-specific sex pheromones. The actions of sex pheromones arewell-investigated, but the neural mechanisms that regulate sexual behavior in response to sex pheromones are stillelusive. Recently, we identified a novel immediate early gene (whose expression is upregulated by neural activity),
Hr38, which is conserved in all insect species (Current Biology, 2013). By utilizing the neural activity-dependenttranscriptional activity of Hr38, we are establishing a novel activity-mapping systems with gene-modifies insects,
such as flies and silkmoths. Our final goal of this study is to understand how sensory information is calculated andintegrated and how decision is made in the insect brains.
2. Novel actions of metamorphic hormones on brain functions.
Recent progress on insect molecular biology revealed that metamorphic hormones, such as ecdysone and juvenile
hormone, have important actions on insect brain functions. Since Hr38, a novel immediate early gene identified byour group, is a type of ecdysteroid receptor, we are focusing on the functional importance of Hr38 and ecdysteroids
on behavioral plasticity. Using the courtship learning of Drosophila and appetitive learning of honeybees, we arerevealing how humoral factors and their receptors regulate behavioral and neural plasticities.
3. Sexual difference of insect brain function.
Insects exhibit a large difference in appearance between males and females. Not only the appearance but also thebehavior is drastically distinct between the sexes. The sexual differences in behavior are most evident in the sexual
behavior, where sexually dimorphic neural circuits play essential roles. By employing the silkmoth as a modelorganism, we are addressing the questions how sexually dimorphic brain function is produced and what neuralcircuits governs these behavioral differences. So far, we conducted a comprehensive screenings using subtraction,differential display, and microarray methods, and identified several genes that show sexually differential expression.
Utilizing the latest technology, such as genome editing by TALEN and CRISPR/Cas9 systems, we are addressing
the above questions.

Master/Doctor course: Education policy, curriculum, typical activity in the laboratory
Both Master and Doctor course students give presentations in the lab meeting. Twice per half year of progress
reports and once per half year of journal club is regular schedule. Depending on the progress of research,conference presentation is possible. We request foreign students to have enough English skills (At least TOEFL＞85/TOEIC＞800 /IELTS＞6.0). To obtain Ph.D., Doctor course students need to publish at least one paper in theinternational journals with citation index.
Daily life in the laboratory, etc.
Students need to be in the lab until 10AM on week days. Lab members are friendly and polite.
To obtain MEXT scholarship for PhD program, which is very competitive, candidates need to have at least twopapers (including 1st author publications in Master deg. with impact factor) and high GPA score at least ＞3.0/4.0.
Message or comments by the laboratory faculty staffs
We welcome highly motivated students who are willing to work hard for interesting research and good publication.
We like students who have playful mind to enjoy good science. Many alumni are working as academic professors atuniversites or researchl staffs in national and private instututes. Some alumni contribute to the society as public
employees.
Laboratory mail address

Taketoshi Kiya <kiya *at* staff.kanazawa-u.ac.jp>