Parasite Eve (16 page)

    “Can you extract the mRNA
from these cells for me?” Toshiaki placed a flask under the microscope and
urged her to look. “I want to determine the induction of β-oxidation
enzymes in a Northern blot.”
[25]

    “...these cells, what are
they?” Asakura asked as she took her eyes from the lenses, clearly shaken from
what she saw. Toshiaki lied, explaining he had received them as a laboratory
sample from another university. Asakura’s face did not indicate acceptance, but
she pried no further into the matter, choosing instead to nod her head in
resignation.

    That evening, Toshiaki dreamt
about something other than Kiyomi for the first time in a long while. He was
back to grade school days, sitting on his bedroom floor in knee-highs and a
T-shirt, working on a toy model. An electric fan blew cool air onto Toshiaki’s
back at regular intervals. Wind chimes echoed faintly outside and sweat dotted
his forehead from the hot summer day.

    Unlike his peers, Toshiaki
preferred to stay at home all day reading books and sharpening his engineering
skills. He enjoyed educational magazines, had a particular fascination for
dinosaurs, loved zoos and museums.

    The end of summer vacation
was already approaching. His father had taken him to a science museum earlier
that day, where Toshiaki spotted an unusual plastic model on display at the
gift shop. A group of life science researchers had created a robot which
mimicked the movements of a crab, manipulated freely by remote control. A
plastic model version was soon merchandised, eventually finding its way to the
display window which graced Toshiaki’s curious eyes. Seeing how much his son
was drawn to it, Toshiaki’s father bought it for him and he began putting it
together the moment he was home.

    The model had very few parts,
so assembly was effortless. When he switched on the remote, its joints began
moving and large claws swayed back and forth, feeling their way around. To his
young eyes, the crab appeared to be truly yearning for the ocean. With quiet
awe, he pressed another button on the remote. The legs moved in alternating
motions, propelling the crab sideways just like its natural counterparts. More
than ecstatic, he made his new creation walk all around the house.

    Toshiaki was startled when he
realized that the crab’s movements were being driven by uncomplicated
mechanical parts. A single small motor gave it life. He wondered if all
creatures were so simple, but knew this was impossible. He remembered raising
tadpoles some years before, when he watched with great anticipation as they
sprouted hind and front legs from nowhere then lost their tails. Robotics would
never be able to replicate such mystery.

    A revolving lantern turned
slowly in the corner of his room. He had made it during his free time last
summer with veneer and cellophane from the stationery store. At night, Toshiaki
took it out onto the verandah. He lit a candle inside and the paper propeller
on top turned slowly, making the cellophane cylinder spin. It changed to purple
in the darkness, then to red and green, quietly turning around and around...

    Before long his dream flashed
to middle school, then to high school, when Toshiaki learned that all living
organisms were governed by their DNA. He was impressed by the perfection of
this system. Why did existence have the ability to design such a beautiful
code? And how could such a simple structure account for the endless diversity
of life forms?

    Again, the dream switched
scenes. Toshiaki was now in his lab, but it was very outdated, not even the
most basic equipment to be found.

    A conversation from his
senior year at college followed:

    “I think you should
concentrate on studying mitochondria,” said Professor Ishihara to a still young
Toshiaki overflowing with vitality. The professor had just been appointed to
the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences the year before and was searching for a
new research topic. “These days, there are few researchers, if any, who are
really thinking about extranuclear genetics. Sooner or later, nobody will be
able to talk about the essence of human life without some understanding of it.
We tend to forget there is also a society among cells on par with the center we
consider so superior. If any one part of that microcosm becomes dysfunctional,
the whole thing’s a goner. I believe it’s our duty to look at the whole
picture. What do you think, Nagashima? Would you be willing to give it a shot?
I’d like you to come up with some ideas.”

    Toshiaki was immediately
taken with the plan. Here was an unknown world of knowledge, far exceeding
anything he had learned in biochemistry and genetics, just waiting to be
explored. He felt the sheer thrill of breaking new ground.

    Mitochondria revolved
noiselessly, much like the handmade lantern in his room, countless specimens
coiled around one another in large clusters. They floated in space, turning
without end. Toshiaki watched them in his dream. Discernible only as opaque
shapes, they blocked the sun. He was lifted from solid earth and struggled not
to be swallowed up by the darkness.

    Eve 1’s analysis was proceeding
smoothly.

    Toshiaki hardly noticed the
time passing by. It was already August and the hot days pressed on. Leaves from
the trees and shrubs surrounding the school complex glittered intensely like
thousands of small mirrors in the sunlight, shooting through the glass of the
lab window and bathing the room in a bright haze. In the poorly air-conditioned
Pharmaceuticals building, most activities had come to a halt. Toshiaki’s course
was as inactive as the others were busy and all signs of stress were beginning
to fade now that the seniors were all on break studying for their graduate
entrance exams. Only Toshiaki and Asakura stayed behind, though their motives
for doing so were totally unrelated. Shut up in the small, sweltering room, he
was absorbed in Eve 1’s data, instructing Asakura as needed.

    According to the Northern
blot results and RT-PCR
[26]
data, the
β
-oxidation enzymes in Eve 1 had worked remarkably well.

    “I’ve never seen anything
like this before,” Asakura said upon completing the experiment, barely able to
hide her excitement. “The clofibrate
[27]
enhancement is incredible. There’s a peculiar band here that has appeared in
all of them. It’s almost as if these cells are developing into something else
entirely.”

    Asakura pointed to the large,
dark band on the data film image which indicated a dramatic increase in the
enzyme’s messenger RNA.

    “The clofibrate...?” Toshiaki
muttered, looking into Asakura’s face. “Let’s try checking all retinoid
receptor levels. Then, we’ll add clofibrate to the culture medium and see what
happens. Check the mitochondrial growth rate alongside the import experiment
and carefully record any changes. By the way, Asakura, be sure to let me know
if you plan on taking a vacation this summer.”

    “Nope.” Asakura smiled a bit,
inclining her head. “I graduate this year, so...I plan on continuing my
experiments without pause.”

    “In that case, you can help
me speed up this project. I think you’ll be well prepared for the conference in
September, anyway, seeing as you’re almost ready to collect all your findings.”

    “Definitely,” Asakura said
with a prompt nod.

    Toshiaki had added a
peroxisome proliferator, or extract, into the Eve 1 culture flask. The extract,
of which clofibrate was a representative example, was a substance that caused
an organelle in cells called a peroxisome to multiply. At the same time,
however, peroxisome proliferators also induced
β
-oxidation enzymes
within mitochondria, a process which changed their overall shape and
composition. Toshiaki had intentionally encouraged this mutation by introducing
the extract.

    The results were just as he
expected. Eve l’s mitochondria were showing great expansion due to the
clofibrate, and the enzyme formation was immense. Enzymatic movement to
mitochondria was manifestly bolstered. Later, he would have to look at the
induction mechanism in greater detail on the genetic level. Toshiaki was sure that
the mitochondrial induction mechanism would become clear thanks to Eve 1.

    “It’s here!”

    Toshiaki removed a stack of
magazines from their green mail bag with intense enthusiasm.

    As he pulled them out, the
word nature emerged, followed by
INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE
.
Asakura peered patiently over Toshiaki’s shoulder, mad with anticipation.
Toshiaki removed the rest of the magazines, almost ripping the bag in his
haste. The photography which graced the cover of
Nature
sparkled in his
eyes. On the front were titles of featured articles. “Science in Mexico” was
printed in large letters, but underneath them, in smaller type, were the words:
“Approaches to mitochondrial biogenesis.”

    Toshiaki swiftly turned to
the table of contents, tracing his finger along the page until he reached
“LETTERS TO NATURE.” There were two articles on mitochondrial interaction. He
found the page number for the second and flipped to it.

    “We did it!” shouted Asakura.

    Toshiaki’s mind burned with a
single thought:
My own work has appeared in Nature!
His and Asakura’s
names were printed alongside Professor Ishihara’s. They were already expecting
the journal’s arrival this week, but to actually see and hold it in their hands
was a different thrill altogether. Toshiaki had submitted the article the year
before, but only now had Part 1 finally come to print. Asakura’s voice was
filled with sheer excitement as she looked it over.

    Their work had been included
as part of a small feature. It was no longer Toshiaki’s only area of
concentration, however. As he continued to find more conclusive data on Eve 1,
the results of his research were sure to have an impact upon the world.
Everything about Eve 1 was too good to be true. This would someday place him
among the highest, most elite circles in the world of science.

    Toshiaki flinched from a
sudden explosion outside. The smell of powder drifted into the building.

    A large fireworks show was
being held at the river nearby. The Pharmaceuticals building was the perfect
place to enjoy the display. That night, Toshiaki, Asakura, and other staff
members and students all went together onto the roof.

    The enormous fireworks
exploded in chrysanthemum-like shapes against a cloudless night sky. They were
so close, it seemed one could touch them just by extending a hand overhead. In
a single moment, jewels of light filled their vision, spreading outward as each
fizzled into darkness. They could almost feel the glittering, fiery dust
pouring down from the heavens, streaking their faces with vibrant colors.
Asakura opened her eyes widely, gazing upon the full expanse of the sky. The
fireworks changed colors rapidly, from shades of red to vibrant greens. Her
cheeks changed color with each new flash as flowers and waterfalls danced in
the sky.

    She and Toshiaki each opened
a can of beer together and drank them down as they savored this aptly timed
spectacle. Asakura’s eyes scintillated. She drew near to Toshiaki and spoke to
him. He smiled and nodded in return. The smell of smoke saturated the air, but
he was not bothered by it, because these fireworks were blessing their
published work. It was also more secretly a celebration of his rapid progress
with Kiyomi’s cells. Toshiaki’s only regret was that he could not share this
happiness with Kiyomi. He wished so much to show
Nature
to Kiyomi, and
to see these fireworks reflected in her proud eyes. The beating of his heart
entwined in painful harmony with the rhythm of the bright display, sending
ripples of energy trembling along his skin.

8

    Kiyomi was accepted into a
local university. She had always done well studying on her own and her entrance
exam came and went without stress, despite her not having gone through the
usual summer prep courses, cram schooling, or private tutors that plagued many
of her peers. Even when she went out with her parents the day the results were
announced to find her name on the bulletin among those accepted into the
English Literature Department, her happiness was shallow at best.

    She questioned whether this
was really the right path for her and still worried herself about it after the
opening ceremony. Kiyomi had only picked English because of an interest in the
language and her fondness for reading. But once classes began and she made
friends with a few classmates, she appreciated college life much more than she
expected.

    One night, a party was held
for incoming students. It was there where she had beer for the first time. By
high school, most of her friends were already drinking alcohol, but Kiyomi
always abstained. The beer was bitter to her, but she liked the taste of it.
All of the mentors at the party were likable and made her laugh. Before she
knew it, she was feeling a little buzzed.

    The party was now well under
way, and everyone was mingling. Kiyomi went around to socialize with a few
upperclassmen for as long as she was able to. Just when Kiyomi was ending a
conversation with an older female student, she paused for a moment and broke
off the conversation. It was then that she noticed a composed young man sitting
next to her. He too looked to have just finished a conversation with someone
and was drinking his beer with a faint smile on his lips. Their eyes met and,
with an unpracticed hand, Kiyomi lifted her can and offered some of her beer
into his empty glass. She poured it in too straight, turning more than half of
it to foam, and bowed her head in apology. He told her to think nothing of it
and sipped off some of the froth with a laugh. That is when she asked him: