Academic Background and Research Motivation The cytoskeleton is the core structural support responsible for maintaining cell morphology and mechanical properties and is mainly composed of three major classes: actin filaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments. Among these, intermediate filaments play an irreplaceable role in maintaining cell...

Revealing Global Contraction and Local Diffusion of Cytoskeletal Active Matter Networks through Optogenetic Motors and Photobleaching: Interpretation of the Original Study “motor-driven microtubule diffusion in a photobleached dynamical coordinate system” Academic Research Background Active matter systems have recently become a frontier topic in th...

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a cardiac disease characterized by ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction, and it is one of the primary indications for heart transplantation worldwide. The etiology of DCM is complex, including genetic factors, infections, drugs, toxins, and endocrine disturbances. Due to the heterogeneity of its causes, earl...

Pathological Study of a New ACTA2 Mutation Causing Aortic Aneurysm: Validation Using a Yeast Model Research Background Thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) is a potentially fatal vascular disease with mechanisms that are still not fully understood. The ACTA2 gene encodes α-smooth muscle actin, a key component of the vascular smooth muscle...