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• Department of Biomolecular Science and Engineering

Staff

• 
  Prof. T. NAGAI
• 
  Assoc. Prof. Y. WADA
• 
  Assist. Prof. T. MATSUDA
• 
  Specially Appointed Assoc. Prof. K. SAITO
• 
  Specially Appointed Assist. Prof. Y. ARAI
• 
  Specially Appointed Assist. Prof. M. NAKANO

Content of research

One of the essence of biological phenomena is that nano-system consisting few to tens elements works in “cooperative” manner. To this end, we are developing several techniques to elucidate “the principle of the life system weaved by gap between minority and mass”. One approach is the use of the fluorescent proteins (FPs), which is spontaneously fluorescent without any enzymatic synthesis and any cofactors. Combination of FPs with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique allows us to develop functional indicators, by which we can spying localized molecular events in their natural environment within a living cell. By exploiting those techniques, we have created not only calcium-sensitive proteins to obtain an understanding of how intracellular calcium signals are generated and integrated, but also new fluorescent probes for the visualization of signal transduction cascades that are currently assayed by grinding millions of cells. Furthermore, we are developing novel optical techniques by which fluorescence signals can be efficiently detected. We strive to perform the paradigm shift from current biology to “minority biology”

[ Current Research Programs ]

1. Development of novel fluorescent/bioluminescent protein-based indicators for biological events
2. Application of protein 3D structural information to development of novel indicators
3. Development of techniques for light-based manipulation of protein and cellular activity
4. Development of optical microscope technology enabling whole-organism imaging

Figure / Graph

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  Fig1. Self-organized intercellular signaling pattern within 100,000 cell population visualized by a ultrasensitive Ca²⁺ indicator, cameleon-nano
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  Fig2. Five-color fluorescence image of a living HeLa cell taken by the laser-less confocal microscope system.