Watanabe R, Song C, Takemura T, Murata K* (2024) Subnanometer structure of medusavirus capsid during maturation using cryo-electron microscopy. J Virol 98(9), e0043624.
Chen L, Fukata Y, Murata K* (2024) In situ cryo-electron tomography: a new method to elucidate cytoplasmic zoning at the molecular level. J Biochem 175(2) 187-193.
Burton-Smith RN, Song C, Ueno H, Murata T, Iino R, Murata K* (2023) Six states of Enterococcus hirae V-type ATPase reveals non-uniform rotor rotation during turnover. Comm Biol 6, 755.

Contact:　MURATA, Kazuyoshi　TEL: +81-564-55-7893  / E-mail：kazum(at)nips.ac.jp

 

Sugawara T, Furuse K, Otani T, Wakayama T, Furuse M. (2021) Angulin-1 seals tricellular contacts independently of tricellulin and claudins. J Cell Biol. 220: e202005062
Izumi Y, Furuse K, Furuse M. (2021) The novel membrane protein Hoka regulates septate junction organization and stem cell homeostasis in the Drosophila gut. J Cell Sci. 134: jcs257022
Otani T, Nguyen TP, Tokuda S, Sugihara K, Sugawara T, Furuse K, Miura T, Ebnet K, Furuse M (2019) Claudins and JAM-A coordinately regulate tight junction formation and epithelial polarity. J Cell Biol 218: 3372-3396

Contact:   FURUSE, Mikio　TEL：+81-564-59-5277 / E-mail：furuse(at)nips.ac.jp
               IZUMI, Yasushi　TEL：+81-564-59-5279 / E-mail：yizumi(at)nips.ac.jp
(*Applicants who wish to enter the 5-year Doctoral Program with Prof. FURUSE Mikio as a supervisor are advised to have a close discussion with him in advance.)
 

　Prof. NISHIDA, Motohiro　　　Assoc.Prof. NISHIMURA, Akiyuki

Elucidation of the molecular mechanism underlying maintenance and transfiguration of cardiovascular homeostasis
  We are studying the mechanism underlying adaptation and maladaptation of the cardiovascular system against hemodynamic load through focusing on TRP Ca²⁺-permeable channels as a regulator of excitation-transcription coupling and GTP-binding proteins as senescence-inducible redox sensors, using in vivo and ex vivo cardiovascular analyzing systems and chemical principles-based biological techniques.
 

Nishimura A, Ogata S, Tang X, Hengphasatporn K, Umezawa K, Sanbo M, Hirabayashi M, Kato Y, Ibuki Y, Kumagai Y, Kobayashi K, Kanda Y, Urano Y, Shigeta Y, Akaike T, Nishida M (2025) Polysulfur-based bulking of dynamin-related protein 1 prevents ischemic sulfide catabolism and heart failure in mice. Nat. Commun., 16, 276
Nishimura A, Tanaka T, Shimoda K, Ida T, Sasaki S, Umezawa K, Imamura H, Urano Y, Ichinose F, Kaneko T, Akaike T, Nishida M (2025) Non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma-irradiated cysteine protects cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury by preserving supersulfides. Redox Biol., 79, 103445
Kato Y, Ariyoshi K, Nohara Y, Matsunaga N, Shimauchi T, Shindo N, Nishimura A, Mi X, Kim SG, Ide T, Kawanishi E, Ojida A, Nakashima N, Mori Y, Nishida M (2024) Inhibition of dynamin-related protein 1-filamin interaction improves systemic glucose metabolism. Br. J. Pharmacol., 181, 4328-4347
Oda S, Nishiyama K, Furumoto Y, Yamaguchi Y, Nishimura A, Tang XK, Kato Y, Numaga-Tomita T, Kaneko T, Mangmool S, Kuroda T, Okubo R, Sanbo M, Hirabayashi M, Sato Y, Nakagawa Y, Kuwahara K, Nagata R, Iribe G, Mori Y, Nishida M (2022) Myocardial TRPC6-mediated Zn2+ influx induces beneficial positive inotropy through β-adrenoceptors. Nat. Commun., 13, 6374

　Prof. MURAKAMI, Masaaki*　　　Assoc.Prof. HASEBE, Rie

Molecular mechanism of the development of autoimmune diseases regulated by gateway reflex
   Prof. MURAKAMI and Assoc. Prof. HASEBE found a novel concept for neuro-immune interaction, “The Gateway Reflex”, by studying the mechanism of how IL-6 and autoreactive CD4+ T cells induce the tissue-specific autoreactive immune diseases (Cell 148, 447-, 2012, JEM 219, e20212019, 2022 etc). Six Gateway Reflexes have been found so far. In the Gateway Reflex, environmental stimulations such as gravity, pain, stress, light, and microinflammation activate the specific neural pathways, which induces accumulation of autoreactive CD4+T cells to induce inflammation around the specific blood vessels of the tissue possessing blood barrier (e.g. the central nervous system or retina). The mechanism of how the Gateway Reflex increases vascular permeability has been addressed by the concept of “IL-6 amplifier” (Immunity, 50, 812, 2019, Immunity, 29, 628-, 2008). The research goals of Division of Molecular Neuroimmunology are, 1. to discover novel Gateway Reflexes, 2. to elucidate molecular mechanism including the details of neural pathway related to the Gateway Reflexes, 3. to elucidate molecular mechanism of inflammation induced by IL-6 amplifier.
 

Hasebe R, et al., (2022) ATP spreads inflammation to other limbs through crosstalk between sensory neurons and interneurons. J Exp Med 219: e20212019.
Stofkova A, et al., (2022) Depletion of Retinal Dopaminergic Activity in a Mouse Model of Rod Dysfunction Exacerbates Experimental Autoimmune Uveoretinitis: A Role for the Gateway Reflex. Int J Mol Sci 23: 453
Murakami M et al., (2019) Pleiotropy and Specificity: Insights from the interleukin 6 family of cytokines. Immunity 50: 812-831.
Stofkova A et al., (2019). Photopic light-mediated down-regulation of local α1A-adorenagic signaling protects blood-retina barrier in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis. Sci Rep 9: 2353.
Arima Y, et al., (2017) Brain micro-inflammation at specific vessels dysregulates organ-homeostasis via the activation of a neu neural circuit. eLife 6: e25517.
Arima Y, et al., (2015) A pain-mediated neural signal induces relapse in murine autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a multiple sclerosis model. eLife 4: e08733.
Arima Y, et al., (2012) Reginal neural activation defines a gateway for autoreactive T cells to cross the blood-brain barrier. Cell 148: 447-457.

 　Prof. KOBAYASHI, Toshihiro　　

Understanding and applying developmental competency of mammalian pluripotent stem cells
  We aim to understand the mechanisms underlying the developmental competency of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) derived from early mammalian embryos and to apply their principle for in vitro gametogenesis and in vivo organ regeneration. We focus on PSCs and early embryos from various mammals, not only mice and humans, enabling us to study conserved mechanisms across species and develop novel reproductive technologies based on species-specific features.

 

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Contact: KOBAYASHI, Toshihiro　TEL: +81-564-59-5265 / E-mail: tkoba(at)nips.ac.jp
          

　Prof. YOSHIMURA, Yumiko　　　

Circuit mechanisms underlying information processing and functional development in visual cortex
   We are studying the properties of neuronal circuits underlying visual information processing in visual cortex, and the development of the circuits based on experience-dependent and synaptic target recognition mechanisms. To this end, we are conducting electrophysiological analyses combined with optogenetics and laser photolysis of caged glutamate in rodent slice preparations and morphological analyses using transsynaptic viral tracers. In order to relate the properties of neuronal circuits to visual functions, we are also investigating the visual responses of cortical neurons in rodents with electrophysiological techniques and 2-photon Ca²⁺ imaging.
 

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Contact:   YOSHIMURA, Yumiko TEL: +81-564-55-7731 / E-mail：yumikoy(at)nips.ac.jp
 

　Prof. NEMOTO, Tomomi　　　Assoc. Prof. ENOKI, Ryosuke

Quantitative analysis of neural functions and biological rhythm by cutting-edge optical technologies
  We aim to explore new principles of physiological functions by developing innovative optical bioimaging. Utilizing the latest laser, optical, and material technologies, our goal is to observe and manipulate living specimens with high speed and super-high resolution without causing damage. Through quantitative visualization analyses, we aim to uncover the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for the functions of the central nervous system and organs, such as signal transmission, biological rhythms, and hibernation. We also promote the development of various models using cells, organs, and animals for disorders such as cancers, diabetes, and plants.
 

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Contact:   NEMOTO, Tomomi　 TEL：+81-564-59-5257 / E-mail: tn(at)nips.ac.jp
                ENOKI, Ryosuke　　 TEL：+81-564-59-5258 /E-mail: enoki(at)nips.ac.jp


Lab Website

 

　Prof. WAKE, Hiroaki　

Physiological function measurement and manipulation of multicellular circuits in the central nervous system
  The Multicellular Circuit Dynamics Division aims to elucidate the physiological functions of the multicellular circuit dynamics, which consists of neurons and glial cells in the central nervous system, that contribute to higher brain functions. We aim to examine the physiological functions of glial cells that modify the neural circuits activity that ultimately lead to behavior output for mice and to link this to pathological conditions. In addition to the visualization technique using two-photon microscopy, we will further apply our holographic microscopy to biological applications, focusing on the functional connectivity of neurons and extracting the transcriptomes, and evaluating local neural circuits by using holographic stimulation and measurement. In addition to those applications, we are stimulating neurons and glial cells to control higher-order brain functions, including sensory perception, learning, decision-making, and the regulation of sleep and hibernation.

Hashimoto A, Kawamura N, Tarusawa E, Takeda I, Aoyama Y, Ohno N, Inoue M, Kagamiuchi M, Kato D, Matsumoto M, Hasegawa Y, Nabekura J, Schaefer A, Moorhouse AJ, Yagi T, Wake H*. Microglia enable cross-modal plasticity by removing inhibitory synapse. Cell Rep. 2023 May 30;42(5):112383. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112383. Epub 2023 Apr 21.  
Okada T, Kato D, Nomura Y, Obata N, Quan X, Morinaga A, Yano H, Guo Z, Aoyama Y, Tachibana Y, Moorhouse AJ, Matoba O, Takiguchi T, Mizobuchi S and Wake H*. Pain induces stable, active microcircuits in the somatosensory cortex that provide a new therapeutic target. Sci Adv, 2021 Mar 19;7(12):eabd8261. Doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abd8261.
Haruwaka K, Ikegami A, Tachibana Y, Ohno N, Konishi H, Hashimoto A, Matsumoto M, Kato D, Ono R, Kiyama H, Moorhouse AJ, Nabekura J and Wake H*. Dual Microglia Effects on Blood Brain Barrier Permeability Induced by Systemic Inflammation, Nature Commun. 2019, Dec 20;10(1):5816. Doi: 10. 1038/s41467-019-13812-z.

　Prof. ISODA, Masaki　　Assoc.Prof. TOMATSU, Saeka

Neural mechanisms of social cognition and behavior
   The goal of this laboratory is to clarify the neural mechanisms underlying social cognition and behavior using macaques. In particular, we focus on self-other distinction, monitoring of others’ actions, observational learning, and self-other comparison. For this purpose, we employ various experimental approaches, such as behavioral testing, electrophysiological recording, neuropharmacological intervention, pathway-selective blockade of neural activity using viral vectors, and cognitive genomics.
 

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Contact:   ISODA, Masaki　 TEL：+81-564-55-7761 / E-mail：isodam(at)nips.ac.jp
                 TOMATSU, Saeka　 TEL：+81-564-55-7764 / E-mail：tomatsu(at)nips.ac.jp
 

　Prof. KITAJO, Keiichi　

The functional role of neural dynamics
 By integrating data obtained from human experiments using EEG, MEG, ECoG, fMRI, and physiological signal measurements from the body, along with non-invasive brain stimulation, as well as patient data provided by collaborative research institutions, we aim to analyze these datasets using nonlinear dynamical systems theory, information theory, network analysis, and statistical machine learning. Additionally, we conduct mathematical modeling of the nonlinear dynamics of brain and body signals to achieve a comprehensive understanding of information processing in the brain and body. Through these approaches, we seek to advance the understanding of the mechanisms underlying various brain and body functions. Furthermore, we aim to develop novel brain-machine interfaces and AI technologies by focusing on neural dynamics.

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Contact:  KITAJO, Keiichi　TEL：+81-564-55-7751/ E-mail：kkitajo(at)nips.ac.jp
 

　Prof. TAKEMURA, Hiromasa　
Structural and functional brain mapping of sensory and cognitive system
   We investigate structure-function relationship of the brain based on structural and functional neuroimaging using magnetic resonance facility. While our primary focus is to study and understand healthy human brains, we also perform neuroimaging studies on animal models as well as and clinical neuroimaging studies on retinal disorders.
 

Luo, J., Yokoi, I., Dumoulin, S.O. & Takemura, H. (2024) Bistable perception of symbolic numbers. Journal of Vision, 24, 12.
Takemura, H., Kaneko, T., Sherwood, C.C., Johnson, G.A., Axer, M., Hecht, E.E., Ye, F.Q. & Leopold, D.A. (2024) A prominent vertical occipital white matter fasciculus unique to primate brains. Current Biology, 16, 3632-3643.
Miyata, T., Benson, N.C., Winawer, J. & Takemura, H. (2022) Structural covariance and heritability of the optic tract and primary visual cortex in living human brains. The Journal of Neuroscience, 42, 6761–6769.

　　Prof. SASAKI, Ryo　
Neural dynamics of multisensory integration for flexible behaviors
    Our goal is to clarify the dynamics of brain networks underling flexible cognitive behaviors and decision-making using non-human primates. To achieve this goal, we develop various behavioral paradigms with realistic environment utilizing virtual reality (VR) technology, and perform computational analysis based on large-scale neural activity recordings and neural circuit manipulation applying optogenetics. In particular, we focus on motion systems, spatial navigation systems, balancing system for risk-reward decisions, and art cognition.
 

Sasaki R, Ohta Y, Onoe H, Yamaguchi R, Miyamoto T, Tokuda T, Tamaki Y, Isa K, Takahashi J, Kobayashi K, Ohta J, Isa T.  (2024) Balancing risk-return decisions by manipulating the mesofrontal circuits in　primates. Science 383(6678):55-61
Sasaki R, Kumano H, Mitani A, Suda Y, Uka T. (2022) Task-specific employment of sensory signals underlies rapid task switching. Cereb Cortex 32(21):4657-4670
Sasaki R, Anzai A, Angelaki DE, DeAngelis GC. (2020) Flexible coding of object motion in multiple reference frames by parietal cortex neurons. Nature Neuroscience 23(8): 1004-1015

　Prof. NISHIJIMA, Kazutoshi

Establishment and characterization of experimental animal models
   Knowledge about animal characteristics and optimization of the breeding environment are indispensable for conducting scientifically meaningful animal experiments. Center for Animal Resources and Collaborative Study conducts the estblishment of experimental animal models and analysis of hteir characteristics, development of methods of strain preservation and breeding management suitable for each animal species (especially rabbits), from the viewpoint of veterinary and experimental animal sciences.
（※Currently, we do not accept students for trial enrollment.）
 

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Contact:  NISHIJIMA, Kazutoshi  TEL：+81-564-55-7781 / E-mail: kanish(at)nips.ac.jp
 

　Assoc. Prof. MURAKOSHI, Hideji　

Imaging signal transduction in subcellular structures of living cells by 2-photon fluorescence microscopy
  We are working on imaging signal transduction in subcellular structure such as dendritic spine of hippocampal neurons using 2-photon fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) techniques. By combining these techniques with optical manipulation techniques such as caged-compound uncaging and optogenetic tools, we are trying to understand the mechanism of physiological system such as memory system of brain at the level of single synapse.
 

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Contact:   MURAKOSHI, Hideji　Tel: +81-564-55-7857 / E-mail：murakosh(at)nips.ac.jp
 

  　Prof. FUKUNAGA, Masaki

Imaging structure and function relationship of human brain by ultra- high field MRI
　Magnetic resonance (MR) is an excellent technique for noninvasively observing living organisms' structure, function, metabolism, and molecular dynamics. In this section, we investigate the structure-function relationship of the human brain using 3 and 7-tesla ultra-high-field MR imaging and spectroscopy, and develop new imaging techniques to measure biological parameters. In addition, to understand the diseases through advanced brain imaging, we are participating in multi-center clinical research collaboration projects and promoting the exploration of endophenotypes and biomarkers of psychiatric disorders based on the analysis of big MR imaging data.
 

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Contact:   FUKUNAGA, Masaki  TEL：+81-564-55-7842 / E-mail：fuku(at)nips.ac.jp
 

　Assoc. Prof. KOBAYASHI, Kenta　

Analysis of brain function using newly developed gene transfer system
   To understand the mechanisms underlying higher brain functions, we need to analyze the roles of specific neuronal pathways forming the complex neural networks. We succeeded in developing a new gene transfer system to induce transgene expression in the specific neural pathway by using an adeno-associated viral vector and a novel type of lentiviral vector. We analyze the physiological functions of specific neural pathways forming cortico-basal ganglia circuits by using our newly developed gene transfer approach.
 

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Contact:  KOBAYASHI, Kenta  TEL：+81-564-55-7827 / E-mail：kobaya(at)nips.ac.jp
 

　　Assoc.Prof. SOKABE, Takaaki
 

Molecular mechanisms of sensing
　We are clarifying molecular mechanisms of sensing such as thermosensation, nociception and taste sensation by focusing on TRP channels mainly with behavioral, electrophysiological, and molecular biological techniques. We are investigating fruit flies to seek novel mechanisms of temperature and mechanical sensations and developing new strategies of insect pest management by seeking novel repellents and insecticides.
 

Ohnishi K, Sokabe T. (2024) Thermosensory Roles of G Protein-Coupled Receptors and Other Cellular Factors in Animals. Bioessays, e202400233.
Ohnishi K, Sokabe T, Miura T, Tominaga M, Ohta A, Kuhara A. (2024) G protein-coupled receptor-based thermosensation determines temperature acclimatization of Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat. Commun., 15:1660.
Sato S, Magaji AM, Tominaga M, Sokabe T. (2023) Avoidance of thiazoline compound depends on multiple sensory pathways mediated by TrpA1 and ORs in Drosophila. Front. Mol. Neurosci., 16:1249715.
Sokabe T, Bradshaw HB, Tominaga M, Leishman E, Chandel A, Montell C. (2022) Endocannabinoids produced in photoreceptor cells in response to light activate Drosophila TRP channels. Sci. Signal., 15(755):eabl6179.
Suito T, Nagao K, Juni N, Hara Y, Sokabe T, Atomi H, *Umeda M. (2022) Regulation of thermoregulatory behavior by commensal bacteria in Drosophila. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 86(8):1060-1070.

    Contact:  SOKABE, Takaaki    TEL：+81-564-59-5287  / E-mail : sokabe(at)nips.ac.jp

Lab Website