Presentation from JAXA/NASA Joint Workshop at 2016 ISS Research and Development Conference

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2. Introduction of Researches
by Utilizing
“Kibo” internal Facilities
JAXA/NASA Joint Workshop
ISS R&D Conference 2016
Tetsuya Sakashita
JEM Utilization Center, JAXA

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This presentation intends to
 inspire potential users of Kibo Pressurized
Module(PM) to create new research concepts,
 encourage U.S. researchers to join Kibo-PM
experiment through JAXA-NASA cooperation frame
work, such as
Japan-U.S. Open Platform Partnership Program
(JP-US OP3)
by introducing typical Kibo-PM researches and its facility
equipment.

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 Rodent Research
 Aquatic Biology Research
 High Quality Protein Crystallization
 High Temperature Material Property
Measurements
 Other Facility Equipment in Kibo-PM
Topics

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X-Y. Overview of Physical Sciences in Japan

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X-Y. Overview of Physical Sciences in Japan
Kibo Pressurized Module(PM)

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X-Y. Overview of Physical Sciences in Japan
Kibo-PM Internal

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Statistics of Research in Kibo-PM
Since Kibo-PM was in operational in 2009,
 Six major laboratory facility racks are in work
 Approx. 100 experiments in total
Life Science
Medical Science/Human space technology
Physical/material Science
Satelite Deployment/Applied Science/Education/Art

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Remarkable Features
 Comparison between micro-G and artificial-G
(upto 1G) conditions in space (6 mouse for each
conditions)
Provide the world’s first long-term artificial gravity environment
for mammals in space.
 Individual habitat (1 mouse per cage)
Capable of providing a uniform rearing environment of each
mouse to minimize variance in growth, prevent physical contact
(e.g. fighting), and monitor the behavior of an individual mouse.
 Retrieve mice to the ground in living condition
Skilled researchers can dissect mice for detailed analysis using
cutting-edge techniques.
JAXA Rodent Research

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Biological
experiment facility
with centrifuge in
Kibo
Six cages in the microgravity (µG) area
Six cages in the centrifugal,
artificial gravity section
JAXA Rodent Research
Comparison between micro-G and artificial-G

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Mouse Habitat Unit (MHU)
Inside the HCU
Feeder
Water Nozzles
LED (white /IR)Wiper Camera
Waste collection area
Window for
visibility of mice in
both sides
Transportation Cage Unit(TCU)Habitat Cage Unit (HCU)
Disposable Glove Box for MHU
Individual habitat

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JAXA Rodent Research
Six cages in the
microgravity area
Six cages on the
centrifugal rotor,
artificial gravity
sectionLaunch Live Return
12 mice12 mice
Retrieve mice to the ground in living condition

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Planed experiment #1
 Transcriptome analysis and germ cell development
analysis of mice in the space
• To identify the long-term effects of the space environment on
epigenetic changes of DNA
• To clarify the impact of the space environment on mammalian
germ cells by production of offspring using the sperm stressed
in the space
JAXA Rodent Research
Ground
Space environment
Clarify the impact of the space environment
on next generations
Identify the long-term effects in different organs
Offspring using sperm
from space mice
Live return
Pre-launch: Acclimation
Post-landing: Dissection
male mice
Behavior observation

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Planed experiment #2
 Multi-omics analysis of human-microbial
metabolic cross-talk in the space environment
• To evaluate immune dysfunction in the space environment
and to elucidate the mechanism, by combining integrated
omics analyses of astronaut subjects.
JAXA Rodent Research
・Functional and quantitative
analyses of immune factors
Astronaut Flight-mouse
・Host-microbial interaction,
・Integrated omics analyses
BloodFecesSaliva Immuno-organs

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JAXA Aquatic Biology Research
medaka
(Oryzias latipes)
zebrafish
(Danio rerio)

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Advantages of aquatic research using medaka or
zebra fish in space.
 Genome was decoded; extensive ground researches
 Fish is vertebrate usable for bone or muscular
research
 Multigenerational breeding; 45 days from hatch to
spawn.
 Visibility of transparent embryo and body.
JAXA’s Aquatic Habitat (AQH) is the only flight-
proven aquatic experiment facility available the ISS.
JAXA Aquatic Biology Research

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Flight Day 13
Medaka feeding

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JAXA Aquatic Biology Research
Biological Filter
Gas ExchangerLED Light
CCD Camera
Aquariums
(two)
Waste Filter
Water Circulation Unit Controller
AQH features,
 Continuous rearing up to 90
days, for two or more
generations.
 16 adult medaka or 12 adult
zebra fish in two aquariums
(8 or 6 each).

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Medaka Osteoclast
Previous research
24 medaka fish with osteoclasts that emit a fluorescent
signal, sent into space as juveniles, and reared for 56
days.
 The pharyngeal bone (the jaw bone at the back of the throat)
and the teeth of the fish reduced their mineral density
significantly
 The volume and activity of osteoclasts is increased.
 Transcriptome analysis uncovered two strongly upregulated
genes (fkbp5 and ddit4), together with 15 other mitochondria-
related genes whose expression was also enhanced.
 Unusual behavior is observed towards the latter stages of stay
in space, showing motionless at day 47.

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Medaka Osteoclast
Pharyngeal bone Fluorescent image
Section at yellow dotted line
Kudo et al.
Microgravity promotes osteoclast activity in medaka fish reared at the international space station
Scientific Reports 5 (14172) (2015)

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JAXA Aquatic Biology Research
JAXA Fluorescence Microscope
 Inverted microscope,
Leica DMI 6000B
 Stage Heater(～40 deg.C)
for small cell culture
chamber

23. Confocal Microscope
System
 Currently CSU-W1
confocal unit (Yokogawa
Electric Corp.) and other
systems are studied.
 The confocal system is
planed available onboard
in 2018.
Stage Heater
Controller
Microscope
Controller
Confocal
Controller
Confocal
Unit
CCD
camera
Confocal Laser Unit
Microscope
Future upgrade
2.3 Microscope
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JAXA Protein Crystallization
Remarkable Features
Standard service for Japanese commercial users,
 Crystallization in 4℃ as well as 20℃
Can adopt much variety of protein crystallization.
 Support protein sample purification
 Support X-ray diffraction data collection
 Quick turn around
10 months or less, from sample delivery to JAXA till release X-
ray diffraction data back to client. Three to four opportunities
per year.
Note: Terms and conditions for U.S. user are pending on JP-US
OP3 coordination.

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High-quality crystallization in space Structural Analysis on Earth
Structure Based Drug Design
Far less convection & disturbance
⇒ Improved crystal quality (close to
(or beyond) 1Å)
On Earth In space
Effective exploration of
drug candidates (keys)
with apparent structure of
disease-causing protein
(keyhole)
Unraveling molecular
structures affecting diseases
Drug / enzyme candidate
Japanese Pharmaceutical companies
started to utilize Protein Crystallization
in “KIBO” for their research from 2014.
JAXA Protein Crystallization

27. Examples of Results
Create new enzymes and catalyze
the synthesis of nylon-6 (reverse
reaction) or other potential
products.
Nylon Oligomer Hydrolase
(University of Hyogo)
A drug for muscle diseases was
designed by pharmacists and its effect
was confirmed with animal
experiments.
Prostaglandin D Synthase
(Osaka Bioscience Institute)
～1.5 Å resolution
～1.05 Å resolution
Space
～1.8 Å resolution
Ground
～1.1 Å resolution
Space
Ｉnfluenza virus RNA
polymerase
(Yokohama City University)
Ground
Structural insight into the RNA
polymerase lead to the
development of new medicine
regardless of influenza viruses
type.
JAXA Protein Crystallization

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High Temperature Material Property Measurements
Remarkable Features
JAXA’s Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF) was launched in
2015, and initial Function Checkout is on going.
 Thermophysical properties measurement of oxides, in
addition to metal upto 3,000℃
Density, Surface tension, Viscosity
 Oxides processing under relatively high atmospheric
pressure
Low voltage for sample holding on orbit, prevents electro-
discharge in gaseous environment, which suppresses
Deoxygenation
 Less disturbance leads to deep supercooling
solidification
Expect to innovate novel functional materials.

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2
4
6
8
10
2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000
Present work
Temperature (K)
Tm
Viscosity(mPa・s)
Nb: viscosity
thermophysical properties
Giant permittivity of BaTiO3
2 mm
New glass with
high reflection index Casting Simulation
Earth Benefits
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Computer-based casting
simulation in order to
develop efficient turbines,
aircraft, and jet engines.
Investigation the unknown
liquid states of oxidized
materials will achieve
breakthroughs in science and
materials development.
Combined structural analysis of
high temperature liquid with X-rays
on the ground and ISS-ELF
Novel material synthesis is
open the way for future
practical application and
production on Earth.
High Temperature Material Property Measurements

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Other Facility Equipment in Kibo-PM

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Facility Equipment in Kibo-PM
Cell Biology Experiment Facility
Clean Bench
SAIBO Rack
Mouse Habitat
Unit
Centrifuge
rotor
Kibo-PM Internal

32. Facility Equipment in Kibo-PM
KOBAIRO Rack
Gradient
Heating
Furnace
Outer view of SiGe
crystals grown in GHF

33. Facility Equipment in Kibo-PM
Fluid Physics
Experiment
Facility
Solution Crystallization
Observation Facility
FPEF
SCOF
PCRF
RYUTAI Rack
Protein
Crystallization
Research Facility

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Facility Equipment in Kibo-PM
Chamber for Combustion
Experiment
MSPR
AQuatic Habitat
Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack 1,2
Electrostatic
Levitation
Furnace
Flame spread image of
fuel droplet clouds.
Fluorescence
Microscope

35. Minus Eighty degree Celsius Laboratory Freezer for ISS
Super Sensitive
HDV CAM
On-board
Refrigerator4K Ultra HDV CAM 35
Others
Facility Equipment in Kibo-PM
Minus Eighty degree
Celsius Laboratory
Freezer for ISS

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Conclusion
Typical laboratory equipment in Kibo-PM and their
related experiments are presented.
 Rodent Research
 Aquatic Biology Research
 High Quality Protein Crystallization
 High Temperature Material Property Measurements
 Other Facility Equipment

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Conclusion
 In order to maximize utilization outcomes of ISS/Kibo, JAXA
identified and prioritized prospective utilization area as
“platforms”
 JAXA’s utilization facility is available for NASA/US users
under an appropriate agreement between NASA and JAXA.
 JAXA is looking forward further collaboration in utilization as
a part of the new JP-US collaboration framework(OP3)
 If you are interested in this activity, please contact Ms.
Marybeth Edeen, ISS Research Integration Office Manager,
NASA, at jsc-iss-research-helpline@mail.nasa.gov