Department of Gene Mechanisms
Laboratory of Chromosome Transmission
■Associate Professor
NAKASEKO, Yukinobu
nakaseko -at- lif.kyoto-u.ac.jp
■Main theme
Main theme in this laboratory is the analysis of eukaryotic cell cycle regulation. Especially, regulation of chromosome separation and segregation during mitosis has been extensively studied. Fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is used as a model system. This yeast has all basic features involved in cell cycle regulation which are conserved among all eukaryotic cells. And wide variety of approach can be taken for analysis such as genetical, biochemical, molecular biological technique. Identification of individual genes involved in regulation of the cell cycle is start point. Elucidation of whole net work of the function of these genes is one of a goal in this research.
Laboratory of Gene Biodynamics
■Professor
INOUE, Tan
tan -at- kuchem.kyoto-u.ac.jp
■Associate Professor
SHIRAISHI, Hideaki
siraisi -at- kuchem.kyoto-u.ac.jp
■Assistant Professor
FUJITA, Yoshihiko
yfujita -at- kuchem.kyoto-u.ac.jp
■Main theme
Research in this laboratory focuses on Synthetic Biology of RNA and RNP (RNA-protein complex). Topics of interest include design and development of new functional RNAs (RNPs), and RNAs (RNPs)-based synthetic genetic networks. The design and development is performed based on the structure of naturally occurring RNA molecules and also in vitro and in vivo evolution technique.
Also used for research in this laboratory is an edible filamentous cyanobacterium, Arthrospira platensis, and a multicellular green alga, Volvox carteri. By using these organisms, we are investigating growth, development and evolution of photosynthetic microorganisms.
Laboratory of Cell Cycle Regulation
■Professor
ISHIKAWA, Fuyuki
fishikaw -at- lif.kyoto-u.ac.jp
■Assistant Professor
TARUMOTO, Yusuke
ytarumot -at- lif.kyoto-u.ac.jp
■Main theme
Our research activity focuses on the molecular mechanism of the flow of genetic information. Chromosomes, the vehicle of genetic materials, show both faithful and flexible behaviors, in different time scales, from a single round of the cell cycle to the evolution of species, and in different conditions, such as development, aging and cancer. These apparently opposite behaviors of chromosomes can be explained by the need of genetic materials to be transmitted robustly. We are particularly interested in how functional domains of chromosome, such as telomeres, are established and maintained, and how chromosomes respond to external stimuli, as exemplified by the genetic instability found in cancer cells. We are trying to understand these questions by experimental approaches based on genetics, biochemistry, and molecular and cellular biology in various model systems, such as fission yeast, Xenopus, and mammalian cells.
