Curriculum Vitae Provide a brief CV showing education and research training, including any prizes or awards: (no more

than one page) PERSONAL DATA Name: Date of birth: Address: (Japan) (Thailand)

Pongsanat Pongcharoen December 27th, 1985 2-4-1 Karoora Tarumi Building room 206 Tarumi Matsuyama Ehime 790-0905, Japan 127/1 Moo.3 Kungsumphao Manorom Chai Nat 17110, Thailand

EDUCATION 2011-present The United Graduate School of Agriculture Sciences, Ehime University, Japan, Department of Applied Bioresource Science, Ph.D candidate (Monbukagakusho Scholarship, Japan) 2008-2011 Mahidol University, Thailand, Faculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry M.Sc. (Biochemistry) International Program, GPA 3.75 M.Sc. thesis: The role of CD44 in human cholangiocarcinoma cells 2004-2008 Mahidol University, Thailand, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology B.Sc. (Biology, second class honor), GPA 3.26, B.Sc. project entitled: Expression and possible role of CD44 in cholangiocarcinoma cell lines AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS 2011-present Monbukagakusho Scholarship, Japanese Government, Japan. 2010 Partial support for enhancement of the quality of graduate student dissertation from the Graduate Studies of Mahidol University Alumni Association, Bangkok, Thailand 2010 The Developing Nation Travel Award to attend the ESMO International Conference: 12th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer, Barcelona, Spain 2008-2010 Teacher assistantship, granted by Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok,Thailand 2008-2009 Tuition fee waiver, supported by Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand 2008 Certificate of honour in appreciation of the excellence in practical work for the senior project of the science program, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand 2008 24 hours English language training for youth development, granted by LAenglish Language Institute, Bangkok, Thailand 2006 Scholarship from Chevron Co., Ltd., Thailand for learning summer course of marine ecology, Phuket, Thailand RESEARCH TRANING AND ACEDAMIC EXPERIENTS 2011-present Identification of the genes for vacuolar amino acid transporters in yeast 2008-2011 Study the expression and role of CD44 in human cholangiocarcinoma cells 2009 Investigate the effect of TNF-alpha on CD44 expression of cholangiocarcinoma 2007-2008: Study the expression and possible role of CD44 in cholangiocarcinoma cell lines Page 2 of 6

List of Publications in International Journals* Publication 1. P. Pongcharoen, A. Jinawath and R. Tohtong. Silencing of CD44 by siRNA suppressed invasion, migration and adhesion to matrix, but not secretion of MMPs, of cholangiocarcinoma cells. Journal of Clinical & Experimental Metastasis 28, 827-839 (2011) (IF 3.524) PPs contribution to this work was do the experiments and prepared the manuscript, excluding the part of immunohistochemistry. International conference (Published and Poster Presentation) 1. P. Pongcharoen and R. Tohtong. The role of CD44 in human cholangiocarcinoma cell. Annals of Oncology 21, 54-55 (2010) PPs contribution to this work was do the experiments and write up. Proceeding 1. P. Pongcharoen and R. Tohtong. Expression and possible role of CD44 in cholangiocarcinoma cell line. Thai Journal of Toxicology 25, 162-167 (2010) PPs contribution to this work was do the experiments and write up. Conference Paper (Thailand): Poster Presentation 1. P. Pongcharoen and R. Tohtong. The role of CD44 in human cholangiocarcinoma cell. The 3rd Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Conference (2011) 2. P. Pongcharoen and R. Tohtong. Expression and possible role of CD44 in cholangiocarcinoma cell line. The 3rd National Conference in Toxicology (2010) 3. P. Pongcharoen and R. Tohtong. The role of CD44 in human cholangiocarcinoma cell. The MUSC Graduate Research Exposition (2010) 4. P. Pongcharoen and R. Tohtong. Upregulation of CD44 expression by TNF-alpha in cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. The 10th National Cancer Conference (2009) 5. P. Pongcharoen and R. Tohtong. Expression and possible role of CD44 in cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. The 2nd Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Conference (2009) 6. P. Pongcharoen and R. Tohtong. Expression and possible role of CD44 in cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. The 9th Science Project Exhibition (2008)

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Abstract Indicate below the abstract that is submitted by you for presentation at the YSP and the FAOBMB Congress in Bangkok (include all authors, affiliation(s) and the text of the abstract) FUNCTIONAL EXPRESSION OF Schizosaccharomyces pombe VACUOLAR AMINO ACID TRANSPORTERS Fnx2p AND Vba2p IN Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pongcharoen P.1, Kawano-Kawada M.2, Sekito T.1, Takegawa K.3, Kakinuma Y.1,2 1 Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, Japan 2 Integrated Center of Sciences, Ehime University, Japan 3 Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Japan Email address: pongsanat.p@gmail.com The maintenance of the cytosolic amino acid concentration at an appropriate level is crucial for protein synthesis. As amino acids are stored in the vacuole, which functions as digestive and storage compartment in eukaryotic microorganisms, this organelle plays an important role for amino acid homeostasis. Recently, two gene families were reported to be involved in the amino acid transport across vacuolar membrane of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In the VBA family, Vba1, Vba2, and Vba3 are involved in the vacuolar transport of basic amino acids. In fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, we found three S. cerevisiae Vba2 homologues, Fnx1p, Fnx2p, and Vba2p, and we here report Fnx2p and Vba2p. GFP-fused Fnx2p and Vba2p localized exclusively to the vacuolar membrane. The procedure for the isolation of vacuoles from S. pombe cells has not been established hence we expressed the S. pombe Fnx2p and Vba2p in S. cerevisiae, and characterized the properties as the vacuolar amino acid transporters by using vacuolar membrane vesicles. ATP-dependent uptake of histidine, lysine and arginine, but not tyrosine and isoleucine, was observed by S. cerevisiae vesicles, suggesting that S. pombe Fnx2p and Vba2p are involved in vacuolar amino acid uptake. Keywords: vacuolar amino acid transporter, VBA Reference 1. Sugimoto N, et al. (2010) Vba2p, A vacuolar membrane protein involved in basic amino acid transport in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 74, 21662169

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Personal Statement Indicate briefly here your Research Interests and Career Goals, why you are interested to participate in the YSP Program (including what you will bring to the YSP and what you hope to gain from it): (no more than one page) Research Interests and Career Goals At present, the amino acid industry has come to play an important role in world chemical production. Amino acids are widely used for the production of plants, animal feed and even in human food and medicine. Year by year the demand for amino acids for using in food additives and pharmaceutical products is increasing; hence there is an urgent need to increase the ability to manipulate the production of amino acids. The industrial production of amino acid is carried out mainly by fermentation through the use of overproducing microorganisms however the yield of amino acids is still insufficient to meet the demand from all areas of industry. One of the limitations in amino acid production from microorganisms is homeostatic control of the concentration of amino acids that is maintained by several transport process. Of particular importance in eukaryotic microorganisms are the vacuolar amino acid transporters. Vacuoles are large membrane-bound compartments within some eukaryotic cells that serve a variety of different functions. In the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, vacuoles are large storage compartments for amino acids and other nutrients. Many observations have revealed that vacuoles are a physiologically active compartment for storage amino acids and are involved in cellular amino acid metabolism. In addition, it has been reported that vacuolar amino acid transporters are involved in amino acid homeostasis of cells. For this reason, manipulated in vacuolar amino acid transport would be expected to enhance the amount of amino acids. Based on this information, I am interested in the role of vacuolar amino acid transporters on the production of amino acids in eukaryotic microorganisms. In this study, I propose to identify the genes for vacuolar amino acid transporters base on blast gene database in yeast. This study should improve the understanding of the amino acid homeostasis machinery and the importance of vacuolar amino acid compartmentalization. The information on the physiology of the identified vacuolar amino acid transport proteins in this study will be significantly increased the understanding of amino acid production in eukaryotic microorganisms and higher organisms, and of the production of amino acids in industry level. Ultimately, the generation of modified industrial yeast strains has the potential to enhance the production of amino acid for a broad range of utilization to support the anticipated high demand for amino acids in future. Why am I interested to participate in the YSP program? Since I have interested in science, FAOBMB that mainly contribute and promote the research in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology is well known in this field. Moreover, the FAOBMB also advocate young scientists under the name of Young Scientist Program (YSP) by providing the scholarship for education, research exchanges and for opening new attitudes in science. To get the best scientist, I am very interested to participate in the YSP program and deeply confident that this program will fulfill and meet my goal. I am strongly certain that I will receive knowledge and experience that I cannot find in the university. I will be able to prepare to solve emerging problems, learn and exchange the knowledge with each others, and be open-mined. However, not only YSP will bring the knowledge and experience to me, but I also will bring my knowledge and research interest to this program. Up to date, the knowledge of sciences are related to many fields of study, so I think this is a great chance to know and to make a connection with other people under the YSP program.

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Attachments: Letters of recommendation from two referees.

Submission methods: You can apply in either of two ways: by sending an email with scanned attachments to the Chair of the FAOBMB Fellowship Committee, Prof. Piamsook Pongsawasdi: piamsook.p@chula.ac.th or piamsook.p@gmail.com This is the preferred method. If using this method, please assemble the Application Form and the Attachments into a single PDF file. by sending a hard copy of the application form and supporting documents to: Professor Piamsook Pongsawasdi, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

Closing Date: Applications must be received by 31 July, 2012 (Bangkok time, GMT + 7 Hours). Applicants will be notified by email of the decision of the Committee by no later than 15 September, 2012.

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