Selection Committee for the Zoological Society of Japan Awards
Chairperson Hiroyuki Takeda

The Zoological Society of Japan held a board meeting on Saturday, June 13, and deliberated on the proposals from the Society Award Selection Committee regarding the recipients of the 2009 Society Awards and other honors. As a result, the recipients of the 2009 Society Award, Encouragement Award, and OM Award have been determined as follows.

2009 Zoological Society of Japan Award

Akihisa Terakita (Osaka City University, Graduate School of Science)
Molecular physiological studies on the diversity and evolution of rhodopsins and phototransduction systems

2009 Zoological Society of Japan Award for Encouragement of Young Scientists

Kazuyoshi Ukiana (Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University)
Identification and physiological functional analysis of neuropeptides from a phylogenetic perspective

2009 Encouraging Award for Female Researchers, Zoological Society of Japan (OM Award)

Ai Fujita (Insect Science Area, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences)
Evolution of cellulase-producing sites and changes in symbiotic microorganisms in termites

Tomoko Yoshikawa (Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Chronomedicine)
Elucidation of the physiological role of the circadian clock present in the ovary

　

Reason for selection

To nominate candidates for the Zoological Society of Japan Award, the Encouragement Award, and the OM Award for Female Researchers for fiscal year 2009, the Award Selection Committee met on Thursday, April 30, in the Large Conference Room of Hokkaido University's Tokyo Office. The selection was conducted with the attendance of all seven committee members representing the fields of endocrinology, morphology/cytology, physiology, development, biochemistry/molecular biology, ecology/behavior, and taxonomy/phylogeny/genetics/evolution. There were 4 applicants for the Zoological Society of Japan Award, 2 for the Encouragement Award, and 7 for the OM Award. Ultimately, it was decided to nominate one member for the Zoological Society of Japan Award, one for the Encouragement Award, and two for the OM Award.

I recommended him/her/them as a candidate for the academic award.Member Akihisa TerakitaSince his graduate school days, he has consistently conducted original research on the diversity of rhodopsins, making immense contributions to this field of study. Biological photoreceptor cells capture more photons by adopting a membrane structure. These membranes are called ciliary-type when derived from cilia, and rhabdomeric-type when modified from the cell membrane. For example, vertebrate photoreceptors are predominantly ciliary-type, while invertebrate photoreceptors are mostly rhabdomeric-type, though some organisms possess both. In this field of research, although it had been established by two decades ago that the G-protein transducin (Gt) mediates signal transduction in vertebrate photoreceptors, research on the diversity across the animal kingdom was lagging. Member Terakita focused on invertebrate rhodopsins from an early stage and discovered that they possess entirely novel rhodopsins coupled with distinct G-proteins: the Gq type in mollusks and arthropods (rhabdomeric-type), the Go type in scallops (which possess both rhabdomeric and ciliary types), and the Gs type in cnidarians (ciliary-type). Beyond discovering such diversity, it is particularly noteworthy that he uncovered underlying general principles governing this diversity through detailed molecular phylogenetic analyses and studies of second messengers. Specifically, he proposed the "Tera Hypothesis"—stating that animal phototransduction systems can be categorized into two lineages: ciliary and rhabdomeric—which is now widely accepted. This completely overturned the conventional notion that rhodopsins correlate with the divergence between vertebrates and invertebrates. Thus, Member Terakita's series of studies is unmistakably a historic achievement for understanding the evolution and diversity of vision. In addition, he has been active in presentations and activities within the Zoological Society, and we unanimously nominated him as a fitting candidate for the Society Award, which is conferred upon "researchers who have made academically beneficial achievements that significantly contribute to the advancement and development of zoology."

I recommended it as an Incentive Award candidateMember Kazuyoshi Ukenais a young researcher who is energetically conducting the identification of novel neuropeptides and the analysis of their physiological functions from a phylogenetical viewpoint. He isolated several novel neuropeptides, including anethocin (an oxytocin-type peptide), from the annelid earthworm *Eisenia fetida*, and also isolated a novel neuropeptide belonging to the oxytocin-type peptides from the protochordate *Ciona intestinalis*, and performed functional analyses of these peptides. Furthermore, expanding his research subjects to vertebrates, he recently isolated gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH), a novel neuropeptide, from the hypothalamus of quail. Subsequently, he also isolated GnIH orthologous peptides from fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. In parallel, he has served as a committee member for the Chugoku-Shikoku Branch and Hiroshima Prefecture of the Zoological Society of Japan, contributing to the development of the society by organizing prefectural meetings and other activities. As described above, Dr. Ukena is a worthy candidate for the Young Investigator Award, which is presented to "young researchers who are actively engaged in research activities and from whom future progress and development are strongly expected," and we have unanimously nominated him.

The OM Award for Encouraging Female Researchers is presented to "female researchers who are members of this society and are trying to promote outstanding research, especially those who find it difficult to continue research in a stable position, but are enthusiastic about pursuing research with a strong will and high aspirations." To make the most of the purpose of the OM Award, the application form format has been changed starting from this call for applications. This has created an environment where we can understand the applicants' attitudes toward research as well as their research environments, and based on that information, conduct reviews that align with the purpose of this award. As a result, this timeMember Tomoko YoshikawaとMember Ai Fujitaunanimously recommended. Both members have experienced studying abroad, changing laboratories, and childbirth and childcare, but even during those times, they continued their research without losing their passion and have achieved outstanding results.

Finally, it was very regrettable that the number of nominations for the Academic Award and Encouragement Award was unusually low this year. However, the application contents for both awards were appropriate, and it was fortunate that the selection committee was able to confidently recommend the candidates. Nevertheless, the selection committee recognized the need to devise ways to increase the number of applications in order to maintain the diversity and quality of the fields. We would like to consider measures moving forward through the board of directors and the general assembly.