2026    筑波大学 生存ダイナミクス研究センター 　准教授

Associate Professor, Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance, University of Tsukuba

興味あること（Research Interest）:

生物が、様々な地球環境に合わせてうまく生き延びていく「発育の柔軟性」がすごく面白いと思っています。特に、小さな昆虫の生活史の「妙」がツボです。モデル生物キイロショウジョウバエと寄生蜂ニホンアソバラコマユバチを用いて、昆虫ステロイドホルモン・エクジステロイドの生合成調節機構や寄生蜂毒の作用機序を研究しています。

研究キーワード：キイロショウジョウバエ、寄生蜂、ステロイドホルモン、脱皮ホルモン、エクジステロイド、発生生物学、細胞生物学、分子遺伝学

I am interested in the flexibility of animal development in response to various environment on earth.  In particular, small insects' life strategy is superior. Using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the endoparasitoid wasp Asobara japonica,  I have been studying the regulatory mechanisms of ecdysteroid biosynthesis in response to various nutrient conditions.

Keywords: Drosophila melanogaster, Asobara japonica, steroid hormone biosynthesis, ecdysteroid, ecdysone, developmental biology, cell biology, molecular genetics, parasitoid venom

筑波大学・生命環境学群生物学類ならびに大学院生物学学位プログラムの学生を教育指導することができます。島田の研究内容に興味ある方は、お気軽にお問い合わせくださいませ m(--)m。 shimada.yuko.gn@u.tsukuba.ac.jp

全業績は、以下のサイトに載ってます。随時更新します。My academic publications are available  in the following websites:

【原著論文】

1. Kondo H, Kamiyama T, Staroverova A, Niwa R, Shimada-Niwa Y*, “Protocols for Efficient Rearing and Functional Analysis of the Endoparasitoid wasp Asobara japonica and its host Drosophila melanogaster,” Journal of Visualized Experiments, in press

2. Shi D, Shimada-Niwa Y*, Okamoto N, Nakamura A, Ohhara Y, Shichino Y, Iwasaki S, Sun W, Niwa R, “NudC moonlights in ribosome biogenesis and homeostasis in polyploid cells of Drosophila melanogaster,” Open Biology Volume 16, No. 6: 260066 (2026). [*責任著者]

3. Kamiyama T, Shimada-Niwa Y*, Mori H, Tani N, Takemata-Kawabata H, Fujii M, Takasu A, Katayama M, Kuwabara T, Seike K, Matsuda-Imai N, Senda T, Katsuma S, Nakamura A, Niwa R, “Parasitoid wasp venoms degrade Drosophila imaginal discs for successful parasitism,” Science Advances Volume 11, No. 5, eadq8771, (2025).  [*筆頭著者と同等の貢献ならびに責任著者]

4. Kamiyama T, Shimada-Niwa Y*, Tanaka H, Katayama M, Kuwabara T, Mori H, Kunihisa A, Itoh T, Toyoda A, Niwa R, “Whole-genome sequencing analysis and protocol for RNA interference of the endoparasitoid wasp Asobara japonica,” DNA Research Volume 29, No. 4, dsac019, 14 pages, (2022).　[*筆頭著者と同等の貢献ならびに責任著者]

5. Mizuno Y, Imura E, Kurogi Y, Shimada-Niwa Y, Kondo S, Tanimoto H, Hückesfeld S, Pankratz MJ, Niwa R, “A population of neurons that produce hugin and express the diuretic hormone 44 receptor gene projects to the corpora allata in Drosophila melanogaster,” Development, Growth and Differentiation Volume 63, No. 4-5, pp249-261, (2021).

6. Seong KH, Matsumura T, Shimada-Niwa Y, Niwa R, Kang S, “The Drosophila individual activity monitoring and detection system (DIAMonDS),” eLife Volume 9, e58630, 41 pages, (2020).

7. Yoshinari Y, Ameku T, Kondo S, Tanimoto H, Kuraishi T, Shimada-Niwa Y, Niwa R, “Neuronal octopamine signaling regulates mating-induced germline stem cell increase in female Drosophila melanogaster,” eLife Volume 9, e57101, 35 pages, (2020).

8. Imura E, Shimada-Niwa Y*, Nishimura T, Hückesfeld S, Schlegel P, Ohhara Y, Kondo S, Tanimoto H, Cardona A, Pankratz MJ, Niwa R, “The corazonin-PTTH neuronal axis controls systemic body growth by regulating basal ecdysteroid biosynthesis in Drosophila melanogaster,” Current Biology Volume 30, No. 11, pp. 2156-2165, e5, (2020). [*筆頭著者と同等の貢献ならびに責任著者]

9. Koiwai K, Inaba K, Morohashi K, Enya S, Arai R, Kojima H, Okabe T, Fujikawa Y, Inoue H, Yoshino R, Hirokawa T, Kato K, Fukuzawa K, Shimada-Niwa Y, Nakamura A, Yumoto F, Senda T, Niwa R, “An integrated approach to unravel a crucial structural property required for the function of the insect steroidogenic Halloween protein Noppera-bo,” Journal of Biological Chemistry Volume 295, No. 20, pp7154-7167, (2020).

10. Ameku T, Yoshinari Y, Texada MJ, Kondo S, Amezawa K, Yoshizaki G, Shimada-Niwa Y, Niwa R, “Midgut-derived neuropeptide F controls germline stem cell proliferation in a mating-dependent manner,” PLoS Biology Volume 16, No. 9, e2005004, 27 pages, (2018).

11. Enya S, Yamamoto C, Mizuno H, Esaki T, Lin HK, Iga M, Morohashi K, Hirano Y, Kataoka H, Masujima T, Shimada-Niwa Y*, Niwa R, “Dual roles of glutathione in ecdysone biosynthesis and antioxidant function during larval development in Drosophila,” Genetics Volume 207, No. 4, pp. 1519–1532, (2017). [*責任著者]

12. Imura E, Yoshinari Y, Shimada-Niwa Y*, Niwa R*, “Protocols for visualizing steroidogenic organs and their interactive organs with immunostaining in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster,” Journal of Visualized Experiments Volume 122, e55519, 11 pages, (2017). [*筆頭著者と同等の貢献ならびに責任著者]

13. Komura-Kawa T, Hirota K, Shimada-Niwa Y, Yamauchi R, Shimell M, Shinoda T, Fukamizu A, O’Connor MB, Niwa R, “The Drosophila zinc finger transcription factor Ouija board controls ecdysteroid biosynthesis through specific regulation of spookier,” PLoS Genetics Volume 11, No. 12, e1005712, 26 pages, (2015).

14. Ohhara Y, Shimada-Niwa Y, Niwa R, Kayashima Y, Hayashi Y, Akagi K, Ueda H, Yamakawa-Kobayashi K, Kobayashi S, “Autocrine regulation of ecdysone synthesis by β3-octopamine receptor in the prothoracic gland is essential for Drosophila metamorphosis.” Proceedings of National Academy of Science of United States of America Volume 112, No. 5, pp1452-1457, (2015).

15. Burn KM, Shimada Y, Ayers K, Lu F, Hudson AM, Cooley L, “Somatic insulin signaling regulates a germline starvation response in Drosophila egg chambers,” Developmental Biology, Volume 398, No. 2, pp206-217, (2015).

16. Shimada-Niwa Y* and Niwa R*, “Serotonergic neurons respond to nutrients and regulate the timing of steroid hormone biosynthesis in Drosophila,” Nature Communications Volume 5, 5778, 13 pages, (2014). [*筆頭著者と同等の貢献ならびに責任著者]

17. Airoldi S, McLean P, Shimada Y, Cooley L, “Intercellular protein movement in syncytial Drosophila follicle cells.” Journal of Cell Science Volume 124, pp4077-4086, (2011).

18. Yoshiyama-Yanagawa T, Enya S, Shimada-Niwa Y, Yaguchi S, Haramoto Y, Matsuya T, Shiomi K, Sasakura Y, Takahashi S, Asashima M, Kataoka H, Niwa R, “The conserved Rieske oxygenase DAF-36/Neverland is a novel cholesterol-metabolizing enzyme,” The Journal of Biological Chemistry Volume 286, No. 29, pp25756-26762, (2011).

19. Shimada Y, Burn K, Niwa R, Cooley L, “Reversible response of protein localization and microtubule organization to nutrient stress during Drosophila early oogenesis,” Developmental Biology Volume 355, No. 2, pp250-262, (2011).

20. Niwa R, Namiki T, Ito K, Shimada-Niwa Y, Kiuchi M, Kawaoka S, Kayukawa T, Banno Y, Fujimoto Y, Shigenobu S, Kobayashi S, Shimada T, Katsuma S, Shinoda T, “Non-molting glossy/shroud encodes a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase that functions in the "Black Box" of the ecdysteroid biosynthesis pathway,” Development Volume 137, No. 12, pp1991-1999, (2010).

21. Harumoto T, Ito M, Shimada Y, Kobayashi TJ, Ueda HR, Lu B, Uemura T, “Atypical cadherin Dachsous and Fat control dynamics of noncentrosomal microtubules in planar cell polarity,” Developmental Cell Volume 19, No. 3, pp389-401, (2010).

22. Shimada Y, Yonemura S, Ohkura H, Strutt D, Uemura T, “Polarized transport of Frizzled along the planar microtubule arrays in Drosophila wing epithelium.” Developmental Cell Volume 10, No. 2, pp209-222, (2006).

23. Shimada Y, Usui T, Yanagawa S, Uemura T, “Asymmetric colocalization of Flamingo, a seven-pass transmembrane cadherin, and Dishevelled in planar polarization.” Current Biology Volume 11, No. 11, pp859-863, (2001).

24. Usui T, Shima Y, Shimada Y, Hirano S, Burgess R, Schwarz T, Takeichi M, Uemura T, “Flamingo, a seven-pass transmembrane cadherin, regulates planar cell polarity under the control of Frizzled,” Cell Volume 98, No. 5, pp585-595, (1999).

【総説】

1. Niwa R, Niwa YS, “Molecular mechanisms of ecdysteroid biosynthesis,” In Comprehensive Molecular Insect Science (Second Edition) (edited by Yamanaka N, Atkinson PW), Vol. 2, pp. 106-137, (2025) doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-95424-2.00043-1

2. Niwa YS*, Niwa R, “Endocrinology: Non-insulin-producing cells secrete insulin under nutrient shortage,” Current Biology Volume 32, No. 8, R380-R382, (2022). [*責任著者]

3. Niwa YS*, Niwa R*. “Ouija board: A transcription factor evolved for only one target in steroid hormone biosynthesis in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster,” Transcription Volume 7, No. 5, pp196-202, (2016). [*責任著者]

4. Niwa YS*, Niwa R*, “Transcriptional regulation of insect steroid hormone biosynthesis and its role in controlling timing of molting and metamorphosis,” Development, Growth & Differentiation Volume 58, No. 1, pp94-105, (2016). [*責任著者]

5. Niwa R, Niwa YS, “Enzymes for ecdysteroid biosynthesis: Their biological functions in insects and beyond,” Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry Volume 78, No. 8, pp1283-1292, (2014).

6. Niwa YS*, Niwa R, “Neural control of steroid hormone biosynthesis during development in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster,” Genes & Genetic Systems Volume 89, No. 1, pp27-34, (2014). [*責任著者]

7. Niwa R, Niwa YS, “The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to study cholesterol metabolism and homeostasis,” Cholesterol Volume 2011, Article ID 176802, 6 pages, (2011).

8. Uemura T, Shimada Y, “Breaking Cellular Symmetry along the Planar axes in Drosophila and Vertebrates,” Journal of Biochemistry Volume 134, No. 5, pp625-630, (2003).