西野さん PNAS, Feb 19, 2013 Vol. 110 #1
page 3065, Specific DNA recognition mediated by a type IV pilin.
This is first time to clearly shows one component of Type IV Pilin, ComB, interacting with DNA uptake sequence (DUS). Furthermore, this interaction is dependent on the concentration of ComP. They conclude that K94 and K108 in the stripe of ComP are very important binding sites.
尾上さん Science Vol340, 6138 page1257-1364
page 1303, Evolution of mammalian diving capacity traced by myoglobin net surface change.
The authors hypothesized that the difference of surface charge of myoglobin is determined role for diving capacity. They detected the charge of myoglobin in different species, and showed whale or seals with high diving capacity having so many charges on the surface of myoglobin with the help of evolution.
page 1346, Subangstrom resolution X-ray structure details aquaporin-water interaction.
It is surprised that aquaporin was determined at the resolution of 0.88 angstrom. A new finding that a filter capturing water is so important was proposed. The mechanism of capturing water is suggested to be as same as that of K+ channel.