Yasuyuki Onodera

Title: Yasuyuki Onodera: Innovator in Rice Storage Protein Regulation

Introduction

Yasuyuki Onodera is a notable inventor based in Koganei, Japan. He has made significant contributions to the field of agricultural biotechnology, particularly in the regulation of rice storage proteins. His work has implications for improving rice yield and quality, which is crucial for food security.

Latest Patents

Yasuyuki Onodera holds 1 patent related to his research. The patent focuses on Bzip type transcription factors that regulate the expression of rice storage protein. Specifically, he isolated cDNAs (RISBZ1, RISBZ4, and RISBZ5) encoding bZIP transcription factors from a cDNA library originating in rice plant seeds. These cDNAs encode novel proteins that exhibit binding activity to the GCN4 motif. Among these, RISBZ1 has been shown to activate transcription mediated by the GCN4 motif by 100-fold or more. The expression of RISBZ1 occurs prior to the expression of a seed storage protein gene and is specifically expressed in maturing seeds. This suggests that RISBZ1 plays a crucial role in controlling the expression of rice seed storage proteins. Furthermore, by linking the recognition sequence of the transcription factor, the GCN4 motif, in tandem and introducing it into the promoter for a gene encoding seed storage protein, the expression of a foreign gene under the control of the modified promoters is significantly enhanced.

Career Highlights

Throughout his career, Yasuyuki Onodera has worked with esteemed organizations such as the National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences and the National Agriculture and Bio-oriented Research Organization. His research has contributed to advancements in understanding the genetic regulation of rice, which is vital for agricultural development.

Collaborations

Yasuyuki Onodera has collaborated with Fumio Takaiwa, a fellow researcher in the field. Their joint efforts have furthered the understanding of transcription factors and their role in plant biology.

Conclusion

Yasuyuki Onodera's innovative work in the regulation of rice storage proteins highlights the importance of genetic research in agriculture. His contributions are paving the way for advancements that can enhance rice production and quality, ultimately benefiting food security.