Biology subjects

Koda, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Koda, S..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

The gradient-based parameter optimization to determine membrane ionic current composition of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes

1.Premature cardiac myocytes derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CMs) show heterogeneous action potentials (APs), most probably because of different expression patterns of membrane ionic currents. We aim to develop a method of determining expression patterns of functional channels in terms of the whole-cell ionic conductances (Gx) using individual spontaneous AP configurations. However, it has been suggested that apparently identical AP configurations were obtained by different sets of ionic currents in a mathematical model of cardiac membrane excitation. If so, the inverse problem of Gx estimation might not be solved. We computationally tested the feasibility of the gradient-based optimization method. For realistic examination, conventional cell-specific models were prepared by superimposing the model output of AP on each experimental AP record by the conventional manual adjustment of Gxs of the baseline model. Then, Gxs of 4 ~ 6 major ionic currents of the cell-specific models were randomized within a range of {+/-}5 ~ 15% and were used as initial parameter sets for the gradient-based automatic Gxs recovery by decreasing the mean square error (MSE) between the target and model output. When plotted all data points of MSE - Gx relation during the optimization, we found that the randomized population of Gxs progressively converged to the original value of the cell-specific model with decreasing MSE. To confirm the absence of any other local minimum in the global search space, we mapped the MSE by randomizing Gxs over a range of 0.1 ~ 10 times the control. No additional local minimum of MSE was obvious in the whole parameter space besides the global minimum of MSE at the default model parameter.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2019

Identification of \"Missing Link\" Families of Small DNA Tumor Viruses

Polintons (also known as Mavericks) were initially identified as a widespread class of eukaryotic transposons named for their hallmark type B DNA polymerase and retrovirus-like integrase genes. It has since been recognized that many polintons encode possible capsid proteins and viral genome-packaging ATPases similar to those of a diverse range of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses. This supports the inference that at least some polintons are viruses that remain capable of cell-to-cell spread. At present, there are no polinton-associated capsid protein genes annotated in public sequence databases. To rectify this deficiency, we used a data-mining approach to investigate the distribution and gene content of polinton-like elements and related DNA viruses in animal genomic and metagenomic sequence datasets. The results define a discrete family-like clade of animal-specific viruses with two genus-level divisions. We suggest the family name Adintoviridae, connoting similarities to adenovirus virion proteins and the presence of a retrovirus-like integrase gene. Although adintovirus-class PolB sequences were detected in datasets for fungi and various unicellular eukaryotes, sequences resembling adintovirus virion proteins and accessory genes appear to be restricted to animals. Degraded adintovirus sequences are endogenized into the germlines of a wide range of animals, including humans.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Adomaviruses: an emerging virus family provides insights into DNA virus evolution

Adenoviruses, papillomaviruses, and polyomaviruses are collectively known as small DNA tumor viruses. Although it has long been recognized that small DNA tumor virus oncoproteins and capsid proteins show a variety of structural and functional similarities, it is unclear whether these similarities reflect descent from a common ancestor, convergent evolution, horizontal gene transfer among virus lineages, or acquisition of genes from host cells. Here, we report the discovery of a dozen new members of an emerging virus family, the Adomaviridae, that unite a papillomavirus/polyomavirus-like replicase gene with an adenovirus-like virion maturational protease. Adomaviruses were initially discovered in a lethal disease outbreak among endangered Japanese eels. New adomavirus genomes were found in additional commercially important fish species, such as tilapia, as well as in reptiles. The search for adomavirus sequences also revealed an additional candidate virus family, which we refer to as xenomaviruses, in mollusk datasets. Analysis of native adomavirus virions and expression of recombinant proteins showed that the virion structural proteins of adomaviruses are homologous to those of both adenoviruses and another emerging animal virus family called adintoviruses. The results pave the way toward development of vaccines against adomaviruses and suggest a framework that ties small DNA tumor viruses into a shared evolutionary history. Author SummaryIn contrast to cellular organisms, viruses do not encode any universally conserved genes. Even within a given family of viruses, the amino acid sequences encoded by homologous genes can diverge to the point of unrecognizability. Although members of an emerging virus family, the Adomaviridae, encode replicative DNA helicase proteins that are recognizably similar to those of polyomaviruses and papillomaviruses, the functions of other adomavirus genes have been difficult to identify. Using a combination of laboratory and bioinformatic approaches, we identify the adomavirus virion structural proteins. The results link adomavirus virion protein operons to those of other midsize non-enveloped DNA viruses, including adenoviruses and adintoviruses.

microbiology↗