User:Ai Oikawa

Ai Oikawa

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Building 978, 1 Cyclotron Road
Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
AOikawa@lbl.gov

• A plant biologist with ten years experience in the field of cell wall (extracellular matrix). I am interested in making better sustainable plant systems by engineering synthesis and remodeling of the cell wall components.

Education

Doctor of Biology (Ph.D.)

• Bioprocess Engineering, 2005 - 2008
• The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences (UGAS), Iwate University, Japan

Master of Science (MS)

• Bioscience and Technology, 2003 - 2005
• Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Iwate University, Japan

Bachelor of Science (BS)

• Bioscience and Technology, 1999 – 2003
• Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Japan

Experience

Senior Scientist

• Afingen, Inc.
• 2014 – Present San Mateo, CA, USA

Guest Scientist

• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• 2014 – Present Berkeley, CA, USA

Biologist Project Scientist

• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• 2013 – 2014 Berkeley, CA, USA
• Adviser: Dr.Henrik Scheller. My molecular biology and bioinformatics analysis have revealed functions of several transcription factors important for woody tissue cell differentiation and cell wall deposition/accumulation in plants. This study is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

• UC Berkeley
• 2008 – 2013 Berkeley, CA, USA
• Adviser: Dr.Henrik Scheller. My molecular biology, biochemistry and bioinformatics analysis have revealed functions of several Golgi-localized carbohydrate active enzymes, which are important for understanding mechanism of cell wall components, deposition, and accumulation. This study was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research.

21st Century COE Program Graduate Research Assistant

• The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences (UGAS), Iwate University
• 2004 – 2008 Morioka, Iwate, Japan
• Adviser: Dr. Shin-ichiro Kidou. My subcellular localization analysis and protein-protein interaction analysis have revealed that a novel grass protein is localized on Golgi apparatus membrane and is involved in synthesis of grass unique cell wall polysaccharide. This study was funded by funded by the 21st Century Center of Excellence Program - Establishment of Thermobiosystem Research Program from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

Graduate Research Associate

• Cryobiofrontier Research Center (CRC), Iwate University
• 2003 – 2008 Morioka, Iwate, Japan
• Adviser: Dr. Shin-ichiro Kidou. I developed new molecular biology technique, namely “Virus-Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS)” applied to cell-wall-related genes in cereal crops. This study was funded by a grant-in-aid from Iwate University, Japan.

Visiting Research Scholar

• Yale University
• 2007 – 2007 New Haven, CT, USA
• Adviser: Dr. Timothy Nelson. I performed a study entitled -“Unraveling the gene network involved in the barley seed development by LCM (Laser-captured Microdissection)") with Professor Timothy Nelson at department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology of Yale University This study was funded by a Young Overseas Joint Research Fellowship granted by the Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists (JSPP).

Undergraduate Research Assistant

• Iwate University
• 2001 – 2003 Morioka, Iwate, Japan
• Advisers: Dr. Masao Miyazaki and Dr.Hideharu Taira. I performed expression analysis and peptidase activity assay of a major urinary protein of the domestic cat which regulates the production of Felinine, a putative pheromone precursor. This study was funded by a grant-in-aid from Iwate University, Japan.

Publications

2013

• Ai Oikawa, Christian Have Lund, Yumiko Sakuragi, Henrik Vibe Scheller. Golgi-localized enzyme complexes for plant cell wall biosynthesis. Trend in Plant Science, 18:49-58 Article
• Xuewei Chen, Miguel E Vega-Sánchez, Yves Verhertbruggen, Dawn Chiniquy, Patrick E Canlas, Alexandra Fagerström, Lina Prak, Ulla Christensen, Ai Oikawa, Mawsheng Chern, Shimin Zuo, Lin Fan, Manfred Auer, William GT Willats, Laura Bartley, Jesper Harholt, Henrik V Scheller, Pamela C Ronald. Inactivation of OsIRX10 leads to decreased xylan content in ricestem cell walls and improved biomass saccharification. Molecular Plant, 6:570-573 Article

2012

• April J. M. Liwanag, Berit Ebert, Yves Verhertbruggen, Emilie A. Rennie, Carsten Rautengarten, Ai Oikawa, Mathias C. F. Andersen, Mads H. Clausen, and Henrik Vibe Scheller. Pectin Biosynthesis: GALS1 in Arabidopsis thaliana Is a β-1,4-Galactan β-1,4-Galactosyltransferase. Plant Cell, 24:5024-5036 Article
• Sara Fasmer Hansen, Jesper Harholt, Ai Oikawa, Henrik Vibe Scheller. Plant glycosyltransferases beyond CAZy: a perspective on DUF families. Frontier in plant science, 3:59 Article

2011

• Yves Verhertbruggen, Lan Yin, Ai Oikawa, Henrik Vibe Scheller. Mannan synthase activity in the CSLD family. Plant Signaling & Behavior, 6:1620-1623 PDF
• Lan Yin, Yves Verhertbruggen, Ai Oikawa, Chithra Manisseri, Bernhard Knierim, Lina Prak, Jacob Krüger Jensena, J. Paul Knox, Manfred Auer, William G. T. Willats, Henrik Vibe Scheller. The Cooperative Activities of CSLD2, CSLD3 and CSLD5 are Required for Normal Arabidopsis Development. Molecular Plant, 4:1024-1037 PDF

2010

• Ai Oikawa, Hiren J. Joshi, Emilie A. Rennie, Berit Ebert, Chithra Manisseri, Joshua L. Heazlewood and Henrik Vibe Scheller. An integrative approach to the identification of Arabidopsis and rice genes involved in xylan and secondary wall development. PLoS One, 5:e15481 Article

2009

• Ai Oikawa, Kazuya Nagai, Kiyoaki Kato, Shin-ichiro Kidou. Gene silencing of barley P23k involved in secondary wall formation causes abnormal tiller formation and intercalary elongation. Breeding Science, 59: 664-670 PDF

2007

• Ai Oikawa, Abidur Rahman, Tetsuro Yamashita, Hideharu Taira and Shin-ichiro　Kidou. Virus-induced gene silencing of P23k in barley leaf reveals morphological changes involved in secondary wall formation. Journal of Experimental Botany, 58:2617-2625 PDF
• Ai Oikawa, Tetsuro Yamashita, Hideharu Taira, Shin-ichiro Ejiri and Shin-ichiro Kidou. Jasmonate-induced 23kD protein (JIP-23) is involved in seed development of barley. Plant Biotechnology, 24:217-220 PDF

2006

• Shin-ichiro Kidou, Ai Oikawa, Naoko Sasaki, Hiroshi Yasuda, Tetsuro Yamashita, Hiroyuki Koiwa, Kiyoaki Kato, Shin-ichiro Ejiri. Identification of a 23 KD protein (P23k) related to the sugar supply in germinating seed. Plant Biotechnology, 23:357-364 PDF

Awards and Grants received

• National Interest Waver (NIW) for Permanent Residency 2013

As an alien who has exceptional ability and whose employment in the United States would greatly benefit the national, the NIW was granted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).

• The Yamada Science Foundation (YSF) Abroad Research Grant 2008

The YSF was established to promote basic natural science by providing funding complementary to that of the Japanese government. The YSF extends financial support to five Japanese researchers (selected amongst a pool of applicants) for abroad research projects. I was awarded the 2008 abroad research grant in order to conduct a study on “Unraveling the gene network involved in the construction of plant cell wall” with Dr. Henrik Vibe Scheller at DOE Joint BioEnergy Institute (CA, USA).

• The Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists (JSPP) Fellow 2008

The JSPP is one of the largest societies in Japan. I was awarded, by the Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists (JSPP), the Young Overseas Joint Research Fellowship for conducting a collaborative research (the subject of which was “Unraveling the gene network involved in the barley seed development by LCM (Laser-captured Microdissection)") with Professor Timothy Nelson at department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology of Yale University.

• Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) - Scholarship Programs for Japanese Students 2008

I was granted a scholarship by JASSO in consideration of my outstanding achievements and of the results I obtained during the course of my Ph.D. studies.

• The Life Science Foundation Travel Grant 2007

I was awarded a Life Science Travel Grant in order to cover the costs of (i) travelling abroad in order to conduct a collaborative research with Professor Timothy Nelson at Yale University, and (ii) attending the Annual meeting of American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) held in Chicago, USA.

Professional Affiliations

• American Society of Plant Biologists
• Japanese Society of Plant Physiologist
• Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society