Zoological Society of Japan
Academic Prize Selection Committee
Chairperson Kazuyoshi Tsutsui

On Saturday, May 1, the Selection Committee for Academic Awards and Other Honors met in the WEST Meeting Room of the TKP Otemachi Conference Center to select candidates for the 2010 Academic Awards, Encouragement Awards, and OM Award for Female Researchers. All seven selection members representing the fields of endocrinology, morphology/cytology, physiology, development, biochemistry/molecular biology, ecology/behavior, and taxonomy/phylogeny/genetics/evolution (Yoshinori Shichida, Osamu Koizumi, Chikako Shingyoji, Kaoru Kubokawa, Akihisa Terakita, Koji Tamura, and Kazuyoshi Tsutsui) were in attendance. There were 9 applicants for the Academic Awards, 10 for the Encouragement Awards, and 6 for the OM Award. There were duplicate applications by the same members for the Encouragement Awards and the OM Award. Based on the selection regulations for each award, the contents of the recommendation letters (for the Academic Awards and Encouragement Awards) and application forms (for the OM Award) were deliberated in detail. Ultimately, it was unanimously decided to recommend two members for the Academic Awards, three for the Encouragement Awards, and two for the OM Award as candidates.

2010 Zoological Society of Japan Award

There were nine applicants. Although zoology consists of a wide range of academic fields, most of the applicants were outstanding researchers representing their respective fields, and they met the selection criteria of being "researchers who have achieved results that are academically extremely beneficial and make an important and remarkable contribution to the progress and development of zoology." As a result, the deliberation was conducted at a high standard. Although the selection was extremely difficult, after detailed deliberation on the applicants' research content, research achievements, and degree of contribution to the progress and development of zoology, it was decided to recommend two candidates to the Board of Directors.

Winner Name / Affiliation

Fukatsu Takema
Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) / Genomic Factory Research Group *(Note: Commonly translated as: Genomic Factory Research Group, Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)*
Research topic: Elucidation of novel functions conferred on host insects by symbiotic microorganisms

Takahashi Takayuki
Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University
Research topic: Elucidation of the ovulation mechanism in medaka

Reasons for the Recommendation

Member Takuma FukatsuFocusing on symbiotic microorganisms present within the bodies of insects and other organisms, he conducted original research that revealed novel biological functions conferred upon host insects by symbiotic microorganisms. Although symbiotic microorganisms possess interesting biological functions and physiological activities, research had not progressed because they are difficult to culture. However, Member Takema Fukatsu overcame this difficulty by introducing diverse approaches such as molecular biology, cell biology, physiology, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Member Fukatsu's research, which investigated interspecies symbiosis and interactions in detail, revealed novel biological functions conferred on host insects by symbiotic microorganisms. Furthermore, utilizing diverse approaches, Member Fukatsu conducted research on symbiotic mechanisms and their evolutionary significance, producing numerous peerless and original achievements. In particular, discoveries such as "horizontal gene transfer from symbiotic microorganisms to host insects," "host-symbiont coevolution and reduced genome evolution," "modification of insect plant adaptation by symbiotic microorganisms," and "the obligate nutritional symbiotic bacterium *Wolbachia*" are outstanding academic achievements, with numerous research results published in top-tier international journals. Member Fukatsu's research has received high global acclaim as pioneering the fields of biodiversity and evolutionary biology. We determine that Member Fukatsu's research, which has significantly advanced the "understanding of biological symbiotic evolutionary mechanisms," is worthy of a society award, and we nominate him as a candidate.

Member Takayuki TakahashiHe skillfully used the model organism medaka to discover, ahead of the rest of the world, ovulation enzymes (such as MT1-MMP, MT2-MMP, and gelatinase A) involved in vertebrate ovulation, which had long remained unknown. In sexually reproducing organisms, ovulation is a crucial event that must be completed before fertilization. The history of ovulation research is long, and numerous studies have been conducted primarily using mammals, yet the identity of the ovulation enzymes remained unknown. Member Takayuki Takahashi's discovery of these ovulation enzymes (MT1-MMP, MT2-MMP, gelatinase A, etc.) has received exceptionally high international acclaim. Not stopping at this discovery, his elucidation of their working mechanism through detailed biochemical analysis is a noteworthy achievement. Furthermore, through Member Takayuki Takahashi's recent endocrinological research, the mechanisms of oocyte maturation and ovulation, which are triggered and cooperatively induced by luteinizing hormone (LH), are being elucidated at the molecular level. Thus, Member Takayuki Takahashi's outstanding research is based in biochemistry while encompassing a wide range of fields such as endocrinology, physiology, and cell biology, with numerous research findings published in top international journals. Member Takayuki Takahashi's research, which has significantly advanced the "understanding of ovulation mechanisms in vertebrates," is judged to be worthy of an academic society award, and he is hereby nominated as a candidate.

2010 Zoological Society of Japan Encouragement Award

There were 10 applicants. All of them met the criteria set forth in the selection regulations for "young researchers who conduct active research and are strongly expected to make future progress and development," making the selection process of a high standard, comparable to that of the academic award. As a result of detailed deliberations on the applicants' research content, research achievements, and future potential, it was decided to recommend three candidates to the Board of Directors.

Winner Name / Affiliation

Kazuko Koshiba
Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, The University of Tokyo
Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in cardiac ventricular septal acquisition

Jun Kitano
Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University
Research theme: "Genetic mechanisms of adaptation and speciation in stickleback fishes"

Akiko Sato
Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University
Research Topic: Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying structural formation and functional maintenance in Drosophila photoreceptor cells

Reasons for the Recommendation

Member Kazuko Koshibabegan his research with the questions, "Why is there diversity in heart morphology?" and "How did heart morphology evolve in the separation of pulmonary and systemic circulation?" He revealed that the ventricular morphology of reptile hearts, which had previously only been described vaguely, consists of three distinct types (amphibian-like, avian-like, and intermediate), and further demonstrated that the function of the transcription factor Tbx5 is directly involved in the acquisition of this diverse morphology. This research achievement was featured on the cover of a top international journal. Next, Member Kazuko Koshiba observed complex heart morphologies using a new three-dimensional reconstruction method and compared the expression patterns and expression levels of Tbx5 mRNA, a candidate factor for ventricular septal formation, across various biological species. Based on this cross-species comparative analysis, she generated Tbx5 transgenic mice with turtle-like expression (turtleTbx5TG) and anole-like expression (anoleTbx5TG mice), and conducted empirical research on ventricular septum formation. Member Kazuko Koshiba's energetic research has opened up new dimensions in evolutionary developmental biology, receiving high praise with strong expectations for future progress and development.

Member Jun Kitano, using the stickleback fish three-spined stickleback as a model system, has produced numerous cutting-edge research achievements concerning the "molecular genetic mechanisms of speciation and adaptive evolution." In recent years, this research field has progressed rapidly and is also attracting attention from the perspective of biodiversity conservation. Without being constrained by specific methods or fields, starting from steady descriptive research and making full use of multiple approaches such as genetics, ecology, ethology, and physiology, Member Jun Kitano's work addressing the "molecular genetic mechanisms of speciation and adaptive evolution" has received high acclaim worldwide. First, he revealed through descriptive research that the Japan Sea type and Pacific type of three-spined stickleback are optimal for the study of speciation. Next, by analyzing the reproductive isolation mechanisms operating between these two types of sticklebacks, he revealed that the sex chromosome structures of the Japan Sea type and Pacific type differentiate through sex chromosome translocation, and that genes important for hybrid sterility and courtship behavior crucial for behavioral isolation accumulate in that region. This series of research achievements has been published in top international journals, and the research content and its future potential have been highly evaluated.

Akiko SatoThrough original research using Drosophila photoreceptor cells, the member has significantly advanced the "understanding of the mechanisms underlying the structural formation and functional maintenance of nerve cells." To investigate the relationship between neuronal architecture and protein transport systems, the member introduced transformation and electron microscopy techniques, successfully analyzing endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi vesicular transport using Rab proteins as a model. Next, using an originally developed analytical method and employing pupal photoreceptor cells during peak morphogenesis, the member energetically pursued research on protein and vesicular transport. A noteworthy achievement is the elucidation of the regulation of post-Golgi transport of rhodopsin and photoreceptor membrane formation by Rab11, accomplished through research making full use of the experimental system for Rab protein mutants established by member Akiko Sato. Furthermore, during this photoreceptor membrane formation process, the member successively elucidated that vesicles containing rhodopsin bind to actin filament bundles and are transported, and that Rab11 forms a complex with myosin V, among other findings. The above research achievements have been published in top-tier international journals, and both the content of the research and its future potential for development have been highly acclaimed.

FY2010 OM Award for Encouraging Female Researchers

The Female Researcher Encouragement OM Award "aims to encourage new attempts by female researchers to develop zoology, and is presented in particular to outstanding female researchers who find it difficult to continue research in a stable position, but who have a strong will and high aspirations and are enthusiastic about pursuing research." There were 6 applicants. Among them, member Kazuko Koshiba was decided to be recommended as a candidate for the Encouragement Award, and was therefore excluded from selection. Based on the purpose of the OM Award, the research content, attitude toward research, research environment, etc., of the 5 applicants were deliberated in detail, and as a result, it was decided to recommend 2 candidates to the Board of Directors.

Winner Name / Affiliation

Yuki Nakatani
School of Life Science and Technology, Graduate Major in Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Elucidation of the mechanisms driving pelvic fin diversity among different fish species

Tomoko Shibata
Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo
Research topic: "Transitions of regeneration modes in the evolutionary process of animals"

Reason for selection

All of the applicants' research topics were excellent. In particular, Member Yuki Nakatani is a part-time researcher and Member Tomoko Shibata is a short-term contract postdoc. Although both are in situations where it is difficult to continue research with a stable position, they have continued their research without losing their passion and have achieved outstanding results. In particular, these two individuals were highly evaluated in all aspects that should be emphasized given the nature of the OM Prize: independence as a researcher, the relevance of their research content to zoology, presentations at Zoological Science and society meetings, the presence or absence of various obstacles in conducting research and their research attitude, and future potential.