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Biochemistry Lab
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A cell biology lab that explores the plasma membrane structures of epithelial cells with a focus on lipids.
AboutAbout the lab
Cell biology focused on lipids
The Biochemistry Lab studies the structure and function of the plasma membrane of epithelial cells, with a focus on lipids.
Textbook diagrams draw the plasma membrane as two gray lines, but in reality thousands of different lipid molecules are present.
Starting from the question of why cells make and use so many kinds of lipids, the lab investigates cell adhesion and polarity formation in epithelial cells.
The lab also studies how lipids relate to diseases caused by epithelial cell abnormalities, such as cancer and fibrosis.
Key terms
- Epithelial cells
- Cells that cover the surface of the body and organs, forming sheets of cells adhered to one another. They exchange substances with the outside environment and prevent foreign substances from entering
- Lipids
- A main component of the plasma membrane. Thousands of different lipid molecules are present in the plasma membrane
- Cell adhesion
- The attachment of cells to one another. Through this, epithelial cells form sheets of cells
NewsLab news
Paper from the lab accepted by PNAS
The Assistant Professor received the 42nd Inoue Research Award
Paper from the lab accepted by The EMBO Journal
Paper from the lab accepted by eLife
Paper from the lab accepted by PNAS
ResearchResearch themes
Epithelial cells cover the surface of the body and of various organs, and they exchange substances with the outside environment and prevent foreign substances from entering. From the standpoint of cell biology focused on lipids, this lab studies the mechanisms by which the plasma membrane structures of epithelial cells are formed.
*Illustrative imageHow plasma membrane structures of epithelial cells are formed
The lab focuses on plasma membrane structures such as cell adhesion apparatuses and microvilli, which support the diverse functions of epithelial cells, and aims to elucidate the principles by which they are formed.
*Illustrative imageFunctions of lipids in the plasma membrane
Lipids are a main component of the plasma membrane, yet much about them remains unknown. The lab investigates their functions in cell adhesion and polarity formation in epithelial cells. It also studies their relationship to diseases such as cancer and fibrosis.
*Illustrative imageRegulation of force and information through adhesion apparatuses
The lab investigates how the forces acting on cells and biochemical information regulate each other through the adhesion apparatuses that connect cells.
*Illustrative imageDeveloping technologies to manipulate and observe lipids
Using cultured epithelial cells, the lab develops technologies for manipulating and observing lipids, and uses them to analyze the functions of lipids in epithelial cells.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Biochemistry Lab consist of faculty members, technical assistants, administrative assistants, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorJunichi Ikenouchi
- LecturerKenji Matsuzawa
- Assistant ProfessorYuma Cho
- Assistant ProfessorAtsushi Matsumoto
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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: “A Pathway to Protocells on Titan – Animations (SVS -Cell-Membrane-Thumbnail)” NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio - NASA Goddard / Public domain (cropped)
- How plasma membrane structures of epithelial cells are formed: “Histological section of small intestine epithelial tissue, zoom” Otávio Astor Vaz Costa / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Functions of lipids in the plasma membrane: “Lipid bilayer fluid” a / Public domain (cropped)
- Regulation of force and information through adhesion apparatuses: “Tight junction 03” Kuebi = Armin Kübelbeck / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Developing technologies to manipulate and observe lipids: “The lipid and lipid bilayer” Bradleyhintze / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (マルチオミクス解析): “30nm Chromatin Structures” Zephyris at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (薬理学): “Фармацевтско-лабараториски техничар” Blagojcedisoski / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (呼吸器内科学): “X-ray of lobar pneumonia” Mikael Häggström, M.D. Author info - Reusing images- Conflicts of interest: None Mikael Häggström, M.D.Consent note: Written informed consent was obtained from the individual, including online publication. / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (神経解剖学): “Sagittal brain slice, UB Museum of Neuroanatomy, Buffalo, New York” Caldwbr / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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