Takashi Sugimura

Takashi Sugimura (杉村 隆, Sugimura Takashi, April 20, 1926 – September 6, 2020) was a Japanese biochemist, famous for research on chemical carcinogens. He received the Japan Prize for the contribution to establishment of fundamental concept on causes of cancer.[1] He was elected as President of the Japan Academy on October 15, 2013,[2] serving till 2016 and was replaced with Hiroshi Shiono.[3]

Takashi Sugimura
BornApril 20, 1926
Tokyo, Japan
DiedSeptember 6, 2020 (aged 94)
NationalityJapan
Alma materUniversity of Tokyo
Known forCarcinogenesis
AwardsCharles S. Mott Prize (1981)
Japan Prize (1997)
Scientific career
FieldsBiochemistry
Cancer Research
InstitutionsNational Cancer Center
University of Tokyo
Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research

Contribution

Sugimura isolated and identified many mutagens with a structure of heterocyclic amine from foods cooked under ordinary conditions. He showed that tumors induced by these heterocyclic amines had genetic alterations. He further developed his studies to analyze multiple-step carcinogenesis at molecular levels to promote effective primary prevention of cancer.[4] His group identified the novel polymer poly(ADP-ribose) and demonstrated the presence of the enzyme poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP). He also discovered the cognate catabolic enzyme, poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) and further elucidated the biology of poly(ADP-ribose). The astonishing discovery of pierisin, an apoptogenic peptide that ADP-ribosylates DNA, profoundly illuminates his scientific character and curiosity as well.[5]

Biography

Sugimura completed his M.D. in 1949 from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, and received the degree of Doctor of Medical Science in 1957 from the same institution.[1] After his postdoctoral fellowship at the Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, he became Chief of Biochemistry Division at the Research Institute, National Cancer Center in Tokyo in 1962, where he served as President from 1984 to 1991.[6] In addition, he was Professor of Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo from 1970 to 1985 and President of Toho University from 1994 to 2000.[6] He was Fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy,[4] Honorary Member of Japanese Cancer Association[7] and also President Emeritus of National Cancer Center.

Recognition

Sugimura received numerous awards and honors which include the following:

Awards

Honors

See also

References
  1. Dr. Takashi Sugimura 1997 (13th) Japan Prize Laureate
  2. 日本学士院長の選定について Selection of President of the Japan Academy(in Japanese)
  3. "New President elected". Japan Academy. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  4. Fellows of the AACR Academy
  5. Masutani, M. (2012). "The pioneering spirit of Takashi Sugimura: His studies of the biochemistry of poly(ADP-ribosylation) and of cancer". Journal of Biochemistry. 151 (3): 221–228. doi:10.1093/jb/mvs005. PMID 22375027.
  6. "チョウとがんと未知なるものと私" Biography of Takashi Sugimura(in Japanese)
  7. 日本癌学会|名誉会員 Honorary Members of the Japanese Cancer Association(in Japanese)
  8. Personal Information | The Japan Academy
  9. "T. Sugimura". Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020.
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