Department of Molecular and Developmental Biology
Laboratory of Genome Maintenance
■Professor
MATSUMOTO, Tomohiro
tmatsumo -at- house.rbc.kyoto-u.ac.jp
■Assistant Professor
HABU, Toshiyuki
habu -at- house.rbc.kyoto-u.ac.jp
■Main theme
The spindle checkpoint, our major research subject, is a surveillance mechanism to regulate cellular apparatus for compliance with this rule. It is a unique negative feedback that converts/amplifies a physical signal sensed by kinetochores (attachment of the spindle and/or tension) and regulates the timing of the sister chromatid separation. Mad2, a signal carrier of this feedback, plays a vital role in the spindle checkpoint. It is specifically localized at unattached kinetochores that are the origin of the checkpoint signal. Mad2 targets CDC20 and inhibits its activity to promote sister chromatid separation. We study Mad2, a central player of the spindle checkpoint, to reveal mechanisms, which regulate the activity of Mad2.
Laboratory of Nanobiology
■Professor
HARADA, Yoshie
harada.yoshie.4r -at- kyoto-u.ac.jp
■Main theme
We are developing novel single-molecule imaging techniques to investigate dynamic processes of intracellular substances and DNA-protein interactions related to genome DNA maintenance. To characterize dynamic processes of DNA-protein interactions, we are constructing Zero-mode waveguides. This method enables us to visualize single-molecule fluorescence at high concentration. Using Zero-mode waveguides, we focus on characterizations of proteins involved in homologous recombination or epigenetics such as RuvAB protein complex or nucleosome binding proteins. We are also developing a novel method for the selective imaging using nanodiamonds. Using this novel method, we study dynamic processes of intracellular substances of interest.
Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology
■Professor
KENGAKU, Mineko
kengaku -at- icems.kyoto-u.ac.jp
■Main theme
Neurons in the mammalian brain are orderly arranged in cortices and nuclei for integration into specific neural circuits. During development, neurons directionally migrate from the birthplace to their destination within the cortex, and then arborize well-patterned dendrites and axons to contact with their specific synaptic counterparts. The major goal of our research is to clarity the mechanisms of cortical lamination and functional wiring of neurons in the brain. We seek to identify the molecular signals regulating neuronal migration and dendrite patterning. We also aim to develop imaging techniques for real-time observation of molecular and cellular dynamics of neuronal migration and dendrite patterning to discover novel phenomena and rules in neuronal motility in the developing brain.
