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Structural and Functional Biochemistry Lab
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The lab studies, at the molecular level, how hormones and chemical substances bind to receptors.
AboutAbout the lab
Receptors are the research target.
The Structural and Functional Biochemistry Lab studies the relationship between molecules that transmit information in the body and the receptor proteins they bind to.
The main subjects are nuclear receptors, which regulate gene activity inside the cell nucleus, and receptors for neuropeptides involved in pain and analgesia.
The lab investigates at the molecular level how chemical substances in the environment bind to receptors and how peptides activate receptors.
On the lab's website, it is also introduced under the name "Matsushima Lab."
Key terms
- Nuclear receptor
- A receptor in the cell nucleus that controls gene transcription. The estrogen receptor belongs to this group.
- Ligand
- A molecule, such as a hormone, that binds specifically to a receptor and regulates signal transduction through the receptor.
- Bisphenol A
- One of the chemical substances that became a concern as an endocrine disruptor, so-called environmental hormone.
NewsLab news
Paper Publication and Press Release Announcement
Paper by Prof. Matsushima et al. published in Applied Physics Express
ResearchResearch themes
As receptor chemistry, the lab studies receptors located on the surface, inside, and in the nucleus of cells, and the action of ligands such as hormones that bind to them. The main targets are human nuclear receptors that control gene transcription, and neuropeptides involved in pain and analgesia and their receptors.
*Illustrative imageEnvironmental Chemicals and Receptors
When chemical substances in the environment affect the body, in many cases they first bind to receptors. For nuclear receptors, the lab investigates the structure-function relationship with chemical substances through binding assays and measurement of transcriptional activity.
*Illustrative imageAnalysis of Nuclear Receptors and Peptide Receptors
The lab is working to understand why the estrogen receptor has two types, α and β. It also investigates at the molecular level where and how peptide hormones such as analgesic peptides bind to receptors, and how the receptors start to function.
*Illustrative imageEffects of Chemicals on Behavior
The lab investigates the effects on the body of feed containing bisphenol A, using the activity rhythms of laboratory animals such as mice as an indicator. It also analyzes clock genes, clock proteins, and the genes of neuropeptides that transmit information.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Structural and Functional Biochemistry Lab consist of faculty members, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and summer interns.As of 2026
- ProfessorAyami Matsushima
VoicesStudent voices
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Type ii nuclear receptor action” Boghog2 / Public domain (cropped)
- Environmental Chemicals and Receptors: “Pesticide spraying in cultivation in Andhra Pradesh” PJeganathan / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Analysis of Nuclear Receptors and Peptide Receptors: “Progesterone Receptor Isoform A” Pttbwicfoshm / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Effects of Chemicals on Behavior: “Mouse RotaRod” Bmouzon / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (生体分析化学研究室): “Cell membrane in Rheo leaf cell” Krishna satya 333 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (量子生物化学研究室): “A water droplet splash” Luke Peterson from Sydney, Australia / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
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(動的生命化学研究室): “Fluorescence from Fluorescent Proteins” Erin Rod / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (光物理化学研究室): “AFM-Raman integration” AAMonitor96 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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