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Okamoto Lab
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The lab applies the mindset of synthetic chemistry to explore how nucleic acids and proteins function, down to the level of individual atoms.
AboutAbout the lab
Exploring the molecules that make up our bodies, atom by atom.
The Okamoto Lab studies how biopolymers such as nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and proteins are involved in biological phenomena.
Bringing the approach of synthetic organic chemistry into biology and genetics research, the lab designs and synthesizes artificial biopolymers with special functions.
The lab also develops new chemical systems that can identify, modify, and visualize a single component or even a single atom within a biopolymer.
Its work combines organic synthesis, photochemistry, state-of-the-art spectroscopy, and biological experiments.
Key terms
- Biopolymer
- A large molecule made inside living organisms. Typical examples are nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA, and proteins
- Chemical probe
- A molecule designed to attach to a target molecule and signal its location or state, for example by emitting light
- Methylation
- The attachment of a small group of atoms (a methyl group) to DNA or other molecules. It is involved in regulating how genes function
- Chromatin
- A structure inside the cell nucleus in which DNA is wound around proteins called histones
ResearchResearch themes
To understand how our bodies are built from atoms and molecules, the lab investigates how the building blocks of nucleic acids and proteins are involved in biological phenomena. It also develops new chemical probes and artificial biopolymers, aiming to create materials useful for cutting-edge research in life science and medical technology.
*Illustrative imageInvestigating nucleic acid methylation
The lab uses new chemical probes to study the methylation of nucleic acids and its removal. The "ICON probe" detects methylation at specific positions in DNA through a reaction with osmium.
*Illustrative imageRNA dynamics inside cells
Using specially designed chemical probes, the lab studies the behavior of RNA inside cells. The "ECHO probe" fluoresces strongly only when it binds to its target RNA, making it possible to observe RNA in living cells.
*Illustrative imageChemically synthesized chromatin
The lab chemically synthesizes DNA and histones, the proteins that DNA wraps around, and studies the chromatin made from them from both chemical and life science perspectives.
*Illustrative imageCapturing cells to examine them one by one
Using specialized techniques to capture and release cells, the lab examines the function of individual cells from both chemical and life science perspectives.
MembersFaculty
The Okamoto Lab consists of faculty members, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, academic specialists, and temporary agency staff.As of 2026
- ProfessorAkimitsu OkamotoPublications ↗
- Associate ProfessorKunihiko MorihiroPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorTakafumi FuruhataPublications ↗
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RelatedLabs similar to Okamoto Lab
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Nishimasu LabFaculty of Engineering, Department of Chemistry and BiotechnologyElucidating the functional basis of protein and nucleic acid…The information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
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: “DNA methylation H o” Qubeat / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Investigating nucleic acid methylation: “DNA methylation” Christoph Bock, Max Planck Institute for Informatics / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- RNA dynamics inside cells: “MicroRNA and mRNA visualization in differentiating C1C12 cells” Ryan Jeffs / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Chemically synthesized chromatin: “Nucleosome-2PYO” Sponk / Public domain (cropped)
- Capturing cells to examine them one by one: “Fluorescence.microscope2” Bioguy10 / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Sando Lab): “Robot arm handles an assay plate” National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Tsumoto Lab): “Antibody IgG2” TimVickers at English Wikipedia / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Ikeuchi Lab): “Human Cerebral Organoids ( )” NIAID / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Nishimasu Lab): “Acidaminococcus sp. Cas12a PDB 5B43” Deposition authors: Yamano, T., Nishimasu, H., Hirano, H., Nakane, T., Ishitani, R., Nureki, O.; Visualization author: Synpath / CC0 (cropped)
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