Ito Katsuhiko:Tenured Faculties|TUAT's tenure-track program

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Ito Katsuhiko

Affiliation	Institute of Agriculture
Division	Division of Science of Biological Production
Research field	Animal Production Science
Keyword(S)	Insect genetics, Insect pathology, Insect physiology
Url	http://www.tuat.ac.jp/~kaiko/

Research experience	･Apr. 2004 - Mar. 2005: Part-time worker, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences ･Apr. 2005 - Mar. 2007: Research assistant, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences ･Apr. 2009 - Mar. 2010: Project Researcher, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences,The University of Tokyo ･Apr. 2010 - Mar. 2013: JSPS research fellow (PD) ･Apr. 2013 - Sep. 2013: Project Researcher, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences,The University of Tokyo ･Oct. 2013 - Sep. 2018: Assistant Professor, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology ･Cct. 2018 - Present: Associate Professor, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (Tenured)
Educational background	･Depatment of Agriculture, Kinki University, 2002 ･Graduate School of Agriculture, Kinki University, 2004 ･Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 2009
Awards	* The latest information is shown at the member's website. (At Oct. 2018) ･Best presentation, The 59 th Meeting of The Japanese Society of Sericultural Science, Kanto Branch
Selected papers and publications	* The latest information is shown at the member's website. (At Oct. 2018) ･ Ito K, Kidokoro K, Katsuma S, Sezutu H, Uchino K, Kobayashi I, Tamura T, Yamamoto K, Mita K, Shimada T, Kadono-Okuda K (2018) A single amino acid substitution in the Bombyx-specific mucin-like membrane protein causes resistance to Bombyx mori densovirus. Sci. Rep. 8: 7430. ･ Ito K, Fujii T, Murakami M, Yokoyama T (2018) Linkage analysis and mapping of a gene responsible for the lethal 19 mutation in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. J. Insect Biotechnol. Sericol. 87: 9-16. ･ Ito K, Yoshikawa M, Fujii T, Tabunoki H, Yokoyama T (2016) Melanin pigmentation gives rise to black spots on the wings of the silkworm Bombyx mori. J Insect Physiol. 91-92: 100-106. ･ Ito K, Shimura S, Katsuma S, Tsuda Y, Kobayashi J, Tabunoki H, Yokoyama T, Shimada T, Kadono-Okuda K (2016) Gene expression and localization analysis of Bombyx mori bidensovirus and its putative receptor in B. mori midgut. J Invertebr Pathol. 136: 50-56. ･ Ito K, Katsuma S, Kuwazaki S, Jouraku A, Fujimoto T, Sahara K, Yasukochi Y, Yamamoto K, Tabunoki H, Yokoyama T, Kadono-Okuda K, Shimada T (2016) Mapping and recombination analysis of two moth color mutations, Black moth and Wild wing spot, in the silkworm Bombyx mori. Heredity. 116: 52-59. ･ Ito K, Kidokoro K, Shimura S, Katsuma S, Kadono-Okuda K (2013) Detailed investigation of the sequential pathological changes in silkworm larvae infected with Bombyx densovirus type 1. J. Invertebr. Pathol. 112: 213-218. ･ Ito K, Kidokoro K, Katsuma S, Shimada T, Yamamoto K, Mita K, Kadono-Okuda K (2012) Positional cloning of a gene responsible for the cts mutation of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Genome. 55: 493-504. ･ Ito K, Katsuma S, Yamamoto K, Kadono-Okuda K, Mita K, Shimada T (2010) Yellow-e determines the color pattern of larval head and tail spots of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. J Biol Chem 285: 5624-5629. ･ Ito K, Katsuma S, Yamamoto K, Kadono-Okuda K, Mita K, Shimada T (2009) A 25 bp-long insertional mutation in the BmVarp gene causes the waxy translucent skin of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 39: 287-293. ･ Ito K, Kidokoro K, Sezutsu H, Nohata J, Yamamoto K, Kobayashi I, Uchino K, Kalyebi A, Eguchi R, Hara W, Tamura T, Katsuma S, Shimada T, Mita K, Kadono-Okuda K (2008) Deletion of a gene encoding an amino acid transporter in the midgut membrane causes resistance to a Bombyx parvo-like virus. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105: 7523-7527.

Research Description

Silkworm is a unique insect which have been domesticated by breeding for a long time. In the history, more than 500 mutants have been reported so far, however, their responsible genes have not been identified yet. Currently, the Bombyx genomic information has been updated day by day, for example 1) almost a complete genomic sequence of silkworm was published, 2) the expressed genes over several tens of thousand were compiled into database, and 3) a transgenic and genome engineering techniques were established. These information and techniques were powerful tool for analysis of the mutant gene in Bombyx. In this background, our laboratory is performed the “Positional cloning and functional analysis of the useful mutant genes in Bombyx”. One of the objectives of our study is the investigation of the important bioactive substance and cascade for the insect growth using the lethal mutation. In addition, another research theme is the analysis of the infection mechanisms of Bombxy mori densovirus which is a pathogen causing flacherie disease in silkworms. The aim of this study is the investigation of the relationship between resistance/susceptible genes for Bombxy mori densovirus and virus infection. To identify these genes responsible for lethality and susceptibility, I would like to find a “weak point” of insect, and then apply it as the target factor of pest control.

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About TUAT's tenure-track program

Tenure track program is a good system for young researcher in term of enough start-up found and experimental space and environment. In addition, when I have some troubles, mentor and researchers around me always give nice advices. Also, this program is attractive because performance during program contributes to obtain the next post. I want to try various researches using tenure track program.

Future aspirations

I will progress my research to obtain the new finding using the tenure track program. To investigate the mutant of silkworm showing a various phenotypes, I want students to observe the “mystery of life” of insect. In addition, I want to teach students how to identify the gene responsible for mutation molecularly. Through these analyses, I would like to produce the scientist who can challenge to the research by him/herself.