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Cell Physiology Lab
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A lab exploring the mechanism of mitophagy, in which mitochondria are selectively degraded.
AboutAbout the lab
Unraveling mitochondrial degradation from the ground up.
The Cell Physiology Lab (Kanki Lab) studies mitophagy, the mechanism by which mitochondria are degraded inside cells.
Mitochondria are organelles that convert nutrients obtained from food into ATP, an energy form that cells can readily use.
Mitophagy is a phenomenon in which autophagy, the process by which cells break down their own components, selectively degrades mitochondria.
Using a wide range of species, from yeast to cultured mammalian cells and mice, the lab investigates everything from molecular mechanisms to physiological significance.
Key terms
- Mitochondria
- One of the organelles that make up a cell. They convert ingested nutrients into ATP, an energy form that cells can readily use
- Autophagy
- Also translated as "self-eating." A phenomenon in which a cell digests and breaks down proteins and organelles within itself
- Mitophagy
- Also called mitochondrial autophagy. A phenomenon in which autophagy selectively degrades mitochondria
NewsLab news
Review on BNIP3/NIX-dependent mitophagy published in J Biochem
Paper on a new factor that promotes mitochondrial fission published in EMBO Reports
ResearchResearch themes
This lab studies mitophagy, in which autophagy selectively degrades mitochondria, in a variety of species, from its molecular mechanisms to its physiological significance. It aims to understand mitophagy thoroughly from the basics and to develop this understanding into therapeutic drugs that make use of it.
*Illustrative imageMechanism of selective mitochondrial degradation
The lab established a method to observe mitophagy in yeast and identified Atg32, a marker on the mitochondrial surface, and Atg11, a cytoplasmic factor that recognizes and captures it. It has shown that selective degradation begins when the two bind.
*Illustrative imageThe significance of mitophagy in yeast
Yeast changes the amount of mitochondria according to the nutrient state of its environment, and mitophagy appears to contribute greatly when the amount is reduced. In strains in which the ATG32 gene was disrupted, the amount did not decrease, and the mitochondria suffered oxidative damage under stress.
*Illustrative imageMitophagy in mammals
Mammals appear to have no factor equivalent to Atg32, and mitophagy is also difficult to observe, so the lab established a highly sensitive observation method using Keima, a fluorescent protein developed by RIKEN. In addition to cultured cells, the lab has introduced mouse models and investigates the link to disease.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Cell Physiology Lab (Kanki Lab) consist of faculty members, researchers, PhD, master's, and undergraduate students, administrative assistants, and research assistants.As of 2026
- ProfessorTomotake Kanki
- Assistant ProfessorShun-ichi Yamashita
- Assistant ProfessorKentaro Furukawa
- Assistant ProfessorKeiichi Inoue
- Assistant ProfessorTakayuki Mito
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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: “Epithelioid cells of mice in the cell culture” ArkhipovSergey / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Mechanism of selective mitochondrial degradation: “Mitochondria 7 -- Smart-Servier” Laboratoires Servier / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- The significance of mitophagy in yeast: “A budding model yeast cell. Utrastructure details. 3D printed” Rosser1954 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Mitophagy in mammals: “Mitochondria in cell” Molecular Probes Inc. / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Biological Function Lab): “Eukayotic Cell (430x maginification)” Jlipuma1 / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Disease Information Research Lab): “Respiratory system - Olfactory bulb 1 -- Smart-Servier” Laboratoires Servier / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Pathology and Pathophysiology Lab): “Artery” Lord of Konrad / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Pathophysiology and Restorative Internal Medicine Lab): “SEM blood cells” Bruce Wetzel (photographer). Harry Schaefer (photographer) / Public domain (cropped)
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