PhD candidate, Noritaka Ohigashi received the Presentation of Distinction Award for the young scientists on the 92th annual meeting of the Japanese biochemical society

Prof. Shigeo Murata received 2019 Academic Award of the Saboro Kakiuchi Memorial, the Biochemical Society 
 

Discovery of the thymoproteasome and its role in thymic selection 
Press release here (Japanese only)　His biography and awards here

Prof. Shigeo Murata received 2018 Academic Award of the Mochida Memorial Foundation
 

Elucidation of molecular diversity and physiological function of the proteasome 
Prof. Murata discovered many novel molecules involved in the regulation of the proteasome, which is an essential enzymatic complex for degradation of unnecessary proteins in eukaryotic cells. He succeeded in elucidating the mechanism of proteasome formation. Furthermore, he discovered novel "thymoproteasomes,” which are specifically expressed in the thymus, and clarified their essential role in the positive selection of killer T cells, a process for sparing potentially useful T cells during their development in the thymus. This finding demonstrated a fundamental molecular mechanism by which the immune system shapes repertoire for discrimination between self and non-self. These achievements are expected to open the way for elucidating the pathogenesis of intractable diseases such as cancer, immune-related, and neurological diseases as well as for drug discovery and new therapeutic methods targeting the proteasome.