TAKUYA AKIYAMA
Senior Research Associate
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
1000 East 50 Street | Kansas City, MO 64110 | USA
taa@stowers.org | 816-926-4072 | Fax: 816-926-4636
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EDUCATION
Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
Ph.D. Biology
Thesis: “Analysis of developmental genes, fruCDE, in Myxococcus xanthus”
Advisor: Dr. Teruya Komano
M.Sc. Biology
2003
2000
Hirosaki University, Aomori, Japan
B.S. Agriculture
1998
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Senior Research Associate
Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO
Advisor: Dr. Matthew Gibson
2011 – Present
Post-doctoral Associate
Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry
Brown University, Providence, RI
Advisor: Dr. Kristi Wharton
2007 – 2011
Post-doctoral Associate
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development
University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
Advisor: Dr. Hiroshi Nakato
2003 – 2007
PUBLICATIONS
Akiyama, T., and Gibson MC (2015). Decapentaplegic and growth control in the developing Drosophila wing
disc. Nature 527:375-378.
Highlighted in: Research Highlights in Nature Review Molecular Cell Biology: Strzyz, P.
How to grow wings. published online 25 November 2015
Akiyama, T., and Gibson MC (2015). Morphogen transport: theoretical and experimental controversies. Wiley
Interdiscip. Rev. Dev. Biol. 4:99-112.
Akiyama, T., Marqués, G., and Wharton, KA (2012). A large bioactive BMP ligand with distinct signaling
properties is produced by alternative proconvertase processing. Sci. Signal. 5: ra28.
Highlighted in: Perspectives in Science Signaling: Peterson, AJ., and O’Connor, MB.
You’re going to need a bigger (glass bottom) boat. Sci. Signal. 5:pe14
Recommended reading & outstanding interest: Wharton, KA., and Serpe, M.
Fine-tuned shuttles for bone morphogenetic proteins. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 23:374-384
Akiyama, T., and Wharton, KA (2012). Is too big better than too small?: A large BMP ligand is produced by
alternative proconvertase processing. Jikken Igaku 30: 2268-2271.
Dejima, K., Kanai, MI., Akiyama, T., Levings, DC., and Nakato, H (2011). Novel contact-dependent bone
morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling mediated by heparan sulfate proteoglycans. J. Biol. Chem. 286:
17103-17111.
CV
Akiyama, Takuya, Ph.D
Akiyama, T., Firkus, C., Takeo, S., Shimmi, O. and Nakato, H. (2008) Dally regulates Dpp morphogen gradient
formation by stabilizing Dpp on the cell surface. Dev. Biol. 313:408-419.
Highlighted in: Recommended reading: Norris, AM. TGF-b Signaling and the Development of a Fly’s Wing. Nat. Edu. 8:10
Akiyama, T., and Nakato, H. (2007) Changing perspective: a new era in heparan sulfate proteoglycan biology.
Cell technology 26: 1123-1126.
*Takeo, S. and *Akiyama, T., Firkus, C., Aigaki, T., Nakato, H. (2005) Expression of a secreted form of Dally, a
Drosophila glypican, induces overgrowth phenotype by affecting action range of Hedgehog. Dev. Biol.
284:204-218. (*Equal contribution)
Takeo, S., Fujise, M., Akiyama, T., Habuchi, H., Itano, N., Matsuo, T., Aigaki, T., Kimata, K. and Nakato, H. (2004)
In vivo hyaluronan synthesis upon expression of the mammalian hyaluronan synthase gene in Drosophila. J. Biol.
Chem. 279:18920-18925.
Akiyama, T. and Komano, T. (2004) Analysis of a novel developmental gene, fruE, of Myxococcus xanthus. J.
Mol. Microbiol. Biotech. 6:164-173.
Akiyama, T., Inouye, S. and Komano, T. (2003) Novel developmental genes, fruCD, of Myxococcus xanthus:
Involvement of a cell division protein in multicellular development. J. Baceriol. 85:3317-3324.
Horiuchi, T., Akiyama, T., Inouye, S. and Komano, T. (2003) Regulation of fruA expression during vegetative
growth and development of Myxococcus xanthus. J. Mol. Microbiol. Biotech. 5:87-96.
Horiuchi, T., Akiyama, T., Inouye, S. and Komano, T. (2002) Analysis of dofA, a fruA-dependent developmental
gene and its homologue, dofB in Myxococcus xanthus. J. Bacteriol. 184:6803-6810.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
1999 – 2002
Teaching Assistant, Introductory Biology Laboratory
St. Marianna University School of Medical Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan
2002
Teaching Assistant, Introductory Biology Laboratory
Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
AWARDS
2015
Stowers 10th Annual Young Investigator Research Day
Runner-up, Best Poster
2014
Stowers 9th Annual Young Investigator Research Day
Runner-up, Best Poster
1994 – 2003
Japan Student Service Organization
Scholarship
PRESENTATIONS
2015 Gordon Research Conference on Developmental Biology (Mount Holyoke College, MA)
Selected Flash Talk, Poster
Akiyama, T., Gibson MC. Decapentaplegic and growth control in the developing Drosophila wing disc.
2015 56th Annual Drosophila Research Conference (Chicago, IL)
Plenary Talk by Gibson, MC
Gibson, MC., Akiyama, T. Decapentaplegic and growth control in the developing Drosophila wing disc.
2012 53th Annual Drosophila Research Conference (Chicago, IL)
Poster
Babur, S., Aldrich, M., Akiyama, T., Wharton, K. TGF-b/Activin signaling mediates border cell
migration during Drosophila oogenesis.
2009 Gordon Research Conference on Developmental Biology (Proctor Academy, NH)
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CV
Akiyama, Takuya, Ph.D
Posters (2)
Akiyama, T., Wharton, K. BMP signaling is required for both border cell specification and migration.
Wharton, K, Bangi, E., Aldrich, MM., Akiyama, T. Fine tuning BMP signaling during development:
multiple mechanisms at play to regulate both ligands and receptors.
2009 North-East Regional Meeting of the Society of Developmental Biology (Woods Hole, MA)
Selected Speaker
Akiyama, T., Wharton, K. BMP signaling is required for both border cell specification and migration.
2004 US/Japan Glyco (Honolulu, HI)
Poster
Akiyama, T., Firkus, C., Takeo, S., and Nakato, H. Molecular mechanisms of glypican co-receptor
function: The roles of Dally in DPP signaling.
SERVICE TO THE PROFESSION
Associate Faculty Member
Faculty of 1000
Developmental Biology
2009 – 2012
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